(28 October 2011, BBC)--Aerial bombings in Sudan's Blue Nile state have forced nearly 2,000 people to flee to neighbouring Ethiopia, the UN refugee agency has said.
Most of the refugees were women, children and elderly people, with some walking for three weeks, it said.
The Sudanese army has denied previous accusations that it has conducted bombing raids in Blue Nile state. Since September its troops have been battling rebels allied to South Sudan, which became independent in July.
About 28,700 people have fled the area since fighting erupted last month. The UNHCR said the new arrivals reported air strikes in areas between Blue Nile's capital, Damazin, and the town of Kurmuk, near the Ethiopian border.
"They tell us they fled bombings and fear of bombings by Antonov planes," the UNHCR said in a statement.
"There are also reports that armed militia on the Sudanese side of the Kurmuk border have warned the community to leave the area, possibly in preparation for a ground offensive," it said. Read more from BBC »
The Sudanese army has denied previous accusations that it has conducted bombing raids in Blue Nile state. Since September its troops have been battling rebels allied to South Sudan, which became independent in July.
About 28,700 people have fled the area since fighting erupted last month. The UNHCR said the new arrivals reported air strikes in areas between Blue Nile's capital, Damazin, and the town of Kurmuk, near the Ethiopian border.
"They tell us they fled bombings and fear of bombings by Antonov planes," the UNHCR said in a statement.
"There are also reports that armed militia on the Sudanese side of the Kurmuk border have warned the community to leave the area, possibly in preparation for a ground offensive," it said. Read more from BBC »
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