Page 6 - aruba-today-20240924

A6 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 24 sepTember 2024
Cholera is spreading in Sudan as fighting between rival generals

shows no sign of abating

By SAMY MAGDY ethnically motivated killings
Associated Press that amount to war crimes
CAIRO (AP) — Cholera is and crimes against human-
spreading in war-torn Su- ity, especially in the western
dan, killing at least 388 peo- region of Darfur, according
ple and sickening about to the United Nations and
13,000 others over the past international rights groups.
two months on Monday, Monday’s shelling hit the
health authorities said, as Sabrian market in Karari
more than 17 months of district in Omdurman, said
fighting between the mili- Mohamed Ibrahim, the
tary and a notorious para- health ministry’s spokes-
military group shows no sign man. He blamed the RSF
of abating. on the attack.
Artillery shelling hit an open It has killed at least 20,000
market Monday in Om- people and wounded tens
durman, the sister city of of thousands others, ac-
the capital, Khartoum, kill- cording to the U.N. How-
ing at least 13 people and ever, rights groups and ac-
wounded more than 30 tivists say the toll was much
others, the health ministry higher.
said. The war also has created
The disease is spreading the world’s largest displace-
in areas devastated by ment crisis. More than 13
recent heavy rainfall and People line up in front of a bakery during a cease-fire in Khartoum, Sudan, May 27, 2023. million people have been
Associated Press
floods especially in east- forced to flee their homes
ern Sudan where millions of the eastern Kassala and al- tion. It’s transmitted through when simmering tensions since the fighting began,
war displaced people shel- Qadarif provinces the most the ingestion of contami- between the military and according to the Interna-
tered. hit, the ministry said. nated food or water. a powerful paramilitary tional Organization for Mi-
The casualties from chol- Cholera is a fast-devel- The disease isn’t uncom- group, the Rapid Support gration.
era included six dead and oping, highly contagious mon in Sudan. A previous Forces, exploded into open They include over 2.3 mil-
about 400 sickened over infection that causes di- major outbreak left at least warfare across the country. lion who fled to neighbor-
the weekend, according arrhea, leading to severe 700 dead and sickened The fighting, which wrecked ing countries.
to Sunday’s report by the dehydration and possible about 22,000 in less than the capital, Khartoum, and Devastating seasonal
Health Ministry. The disease death within hours when two months in 2017. other urban areas has floods and cholera have
was detected in 10 of the not treated, according to Sudan was plunged into been marked by atrocities compounded the Suda-
country’s 18 provinces with the World Health Organiza- chaos in April last year including mass rape and nese misery.q

Malaysian police rescue 187 more children as sex abuse probe of

Islamic group deepens

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia Police also arrested 156 metal spoons as punish- placed in the homes since Ali, two of his wives and
(AP) — Malaysian police more suspects for investiga- ment. Medical screening they were infants and be- two of his children. Some
said Monday they have tion, he said. so far has determined that lieved to be indoctrinated family members of the late
rescued 187 more children Police say some children at least 13 teens were sod- from a young age to be Ashaari Mohamad, who
and raided locations na- are believed to have been omized and 172 children loyal to the group, police headed Al Arqam before
tionwide linked to an Islam- sodomized and taught to suffered long-term physical say. his death in 2010, were also
ic business group that is be- sexually abuse each oth- and emotional injuries. The increased police ac- arrested.
ing investigated for alleged er, denied medical treat- The victims are mostly chil- tion against GISB came af- Nasiruddin earlier admit-
sexual assault of children. ment and burned with hot dren of GISB employees, ter the country’s king called ted there may have been
National police chief Raza- for a swift police investiga- some sodomy cases in the
rudin Husain said the chil- tion and action in the case, homes but denied any
dren and young people, which has shocked and en- widespread abuse.
including 59 under age 5, raged the nation. Razarudin said there were
were rescued from welfare GISB, which aims to pro- an estimated 10,000 em-
homes linked to Global mote an Islamic way of life, ployees and followers of
Ikhwan Services and Busi- owns mini-markets, baker- GISB who were believed to
ness, or GISB Holdings. They ies, restaurants, pharma- be practicing the Al Arqam
included a boy who was cies and other businesses teachings. Islamic authori-
seen being caned and an- in Malaysia and abroad. ties are investigating, he
other child who was seen It has its roots in the Al Ar- said.
being stepped on in online qam Islamic sect, which He said police have raid-
videos, he said. was deemed heretical and ed 280 locations nation-
That brought the number of banned by the govern- wide linked to GISB, but
children under age 18 who ment in 1994. most have been vacated.
have been rescued to 572 Malaysia Inspectors-General of Police Razarudin Husain speaks Last week, police detained In 59 of the locations, po-
since the case against GISB during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Monday, Sept. 23, members of GISB’s top lice seized Islamic books
erupted earlier this month, 2024. management, including and materials with deviant
he said, Associated Press CEO Nasiruddin Mohamad teachings, he said.q