ROME, APR 2 (ZENIT.org).- On March 28, for the second time in as many weeks, the city of Nimule in southern Sudan, which is predominantly Christian, was bombed by the government army of the Khartoum Islamic regime. 12 bombs fell over the span of one hour. One child was wounded an at least one bomb fell near the hospital.

    "Once again, the bombing seems indiscriminate. We can only say that the government continues to terrorize the civilian population," stated Mike Foley, director of the Jesuits refugees Service (JRS). The previous bombing took place on March 14.

    Episcopalian Bishop Wilson Arop, whose diocese includes Nimule, said that "Antonov military planes flew over Nimule for at least a week. They dropped 12 bombs on March 14 and totally destroyed our church, killing a chaplain and seriously wounding 20 persons." Another person died the following day. According to the U.N. High Commission for Refugees, beginning last month, the number of refugees leaving Sudan for border countries has doubled.

    In a statement published on March 24, Doctors Without Borders condemned the "deliberate targeting" of schools and hospitals by the Sudanese Air Force.

    A delegation of South African Bishops who came to Sudan on a solidarity visit "were impressed by the conditions in which the people live in southern Sudan," Fr. Stephen Power said. Fr. Power, a Jesuit, is director of JRS in East Africa.

    "The Bishops were not convinced by the ingenuous explanations of the Khartoum regime about their continued war in the south, including high altitude terrorist bombings on weak civilian targets," he continued. "We must more energetically uncover the hypocrisy behind the current diplomatic actions of the government of Sudan, in order to influence governments," he added. ZE00040201