At least 150 people were killed during two days of fighting in the latest ethnic clashes over land disputes in Sudan’s Blue Nile state, according to Al Jazeera.
“A total of 150 people, including women, children and elderly, were killed between Wednesday and Thursday,” said Abbas Moussa, head of Wad al-Mahi hospital. “Around 86 people were also wounded in the violence.”
Clashes in Blue Nile broke out last week after reported arguments over land between members of the Hausa people and rival groups, with residents reporting hundreds fleeing intense gunfire and homes set ablaze.
The fighting has centred around the Wad al-Mahi area near Roseires, 500km (310 miles) south of the capital Khartoum.
On Thursday, hundreds marched through Damazin, some calling for the state governor to be removed. “No, no to violence,” the demonstrators chanted.
Eddie Rowe, the United Nations aid chief for Sudan, said he was “deeply concerned” about the continuing clashes, reporting “an unconfirmed 170 people have been killed and 327 have been injured” since the latest unrest began on October 13.
Blue Nile state had seen tribal clashes over land disputes in July, and a flare-up in September, resulting in 149 people killed and almost 65,000 displaced by earlier this month, the United Nations said.