FROM:	Sudan Infonet

R e l i e f W e b
http://www.reliefweb.int
Source: UN DHA Integrated Regional Information Network
(IRIN)
Date: 02 Feb 1998
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             IRIN Update No. 345 for Central and Eastern Africa
U N I T E D N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network
for Central and Eastern Africa

Tel: +254 2 622147
Fax: +254 2 622129
e-mail: irin@dha.unon.org

IRIN Update No. 345 for Central and Eastern Africa
(Saturday-Monday 31January-2 February 1998)

SUDAN: Rebels say they control Aweil

Sudanese rebels on Sunday said they had captured another southern
town, Aweil, in Bahr-el-Ghazal state, and were moving towards a
government garrison west of the town, Reuters reported. Last
week, the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) claimed to
have captured parts of the key city of Wau, where they said fighting
was still underway. Reuters quoted an SPLA spokesman in Nairobi
as saying the rebels were fighting under the command of Kerubino
Kwanyin Bol and were preparing for a "final offensive" on Aweil.
Meanwhile, in a statement broadcast over opposition radio, the
Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) described the battle
for Wau as "part of a comprehensive plan of the SPLA forces and
the joint military command of the National Democratic Alliance
(NDA)."

Army denies southern towns under rebel control

The Sudanese army described last week's rebel assault on Wau as
"intended to cripple the peace process". Spokesman
Lieutenant-General Abd al-Rahman Sirr al-Khatim acknowledged
losing 23 men, but stressed the government still controlled Wau, as
well as Aweil. He also said the rebels had launched an attack on
Kassala near the Eritrean border on Friday, but this had been
repulsed by the army. Former rebel Riak Machar, now chairman of
the pro-government Southern States' Coordination Council, told
Suna news agency the rebel attacks would not derail the peace
process.

OLS needs more resources to cope with growing crisis

Operation Lifeline Sudan, in a statement released today (Monday),
said it was hard-pressed to meet the growing humanitarian crisis in
Bahr-el-Ghazal state. An estimated 100,000 displaced people were
fleeing intense fighting in Wau, Aweil and Gogrial. "We simply do
not have the resources to meet the survival needs of these growing
numbers of people," OLS said. NGOs and UN agencies on the
ground needed both funds and supplies "to respond on the scale the
situation demands".

Nairobi, 2 February 1998, 15:00 gmt

[ENDS]

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