Escalating Hostilities in Sudan's North Darfur and Kordofan Regions: Devastating Consequences for Civilians

Strategic Insights -

Volker Tèrk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has sounded the alarm on the dire consequences of ongoing hostilities in North Darfur and Kordofan regions in Sudan, where civilians are facing severe protection concerns due to reported casualties, sexual violence, abductions, and looting. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has launched a further attack on El Fasher, mirroring their April offensive on the Zamzam camp for internally displaced people (IDPs), which resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths and widespread sexual violence. Civilians in South Kordofan state remain trapped by the fighting, while the RSF has reportedly surrounded the city of El Obeid in North Kordofan state.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Tèrk, has warned of the disastrous consequences of escalating hostilities in North Darfur and Kordofan regions in Sudan, citing reports of civilian casualties, sexual violence, abductions, and looting.
  • The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has launched a further attack on El Fasher, following an April offensive on the Zamzam camp for internally displaced people (IDPs), which resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths and widespread sexual violence.
  • Civilians in South Kordofan state remain trapped by the fighting between the parties vying for control of the strategic town of Al Debibat.
  • The RSF has reportedly surrounded the city of El Obeid in North Kordofan state and may attack it in the coming days, as announced by the RSF commander.
  • The UN High Commissioner has urged the parties to ensure civilians can safely leave El Fasher, Al Debibat, and El Obeid, among other places where civilians may be trapped by the conflict.
  • Volker Tèrk has also called on all States to exert their influence to press for a durable political solution, ensure respect for international humanitarian law, and restrain the flow of arms into the country.
  • The business interests sustaining the conflict must also be addressed, according to the UN High Commissioner.

Statistics:

  • Hundreds of civilians have been killed in the RSF's April offensive on the Zamzam camp for internally displaced people (IDPs).
  • Widespread sexual violence has been reported in the aftermath of the Zamzam camp attack.
  • The RSF has reportedly surrounded the city of El Obeid in North Kordofan state and may attack it in the coming days.
  • Civilians in South Kordofan state remain trapped by the fighting between the parties vying for control of the strategic town of Al Debibat.
  • The UN High Commissioner has urged the parties to ensure civilians can safely leave El Fasher, Al Debibat, and El Obeid, among other places where civilians may be trapped by the conflict.

Sources:

  • United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
  • Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
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