UN Warns Sudan Conflict Escalating Perilously for Civilians Amid Latest Al-Jazira Assaults
Latest reports indicate ethnicity-based violence is on the rise, as war in Sudan threatens civilians' safety and sparks international sanctions.
Port Sudan: The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Turk, has issued a stark warning regarding the escalating violence in Sudan, which he describes as becoming increasingly perilous for civilians.
This warning follows alarming reports of army-aligned militia engaging in ethnically-targeted attacks against minorities in Sudan’s Al-Jazira state.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan, fueled by a fierce battle between the national army and paramilitary factions known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has persisted since April 2023. This week, the army launched a significant offensive in Al-Jazira state, successfully reclaiming the capital, Wad Madani, from RSF control.
However, rights groups have reported at least 13 fatalities, including those of two children, resulting from ethnically-motivated violence in this agriculturally significant region.
Both the Sudanese national army and the RSF have faced accusations of ethnic violence.
These were further compounded on Thursday when the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Army Chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan.
The accusations leveled against the army include attacks on schools, marketplaces, and hospitals, alongside the strategic use of hunger as a weapon of war.
This followed a previous sanction against RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, with allegations of genocide facing his faction.
In response to U.S. officials' claims about the deployment of chemical weapons by the Sudanese army, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, indicated that due to restricted access, such allegations have not been specifically documented by the UN. However, Shamdasani confirmed that more research is required, labeling the current evidence as a major cause for concern.
Furthermore, the UN has identified the deployment of heavy armaments in civilian-occupied areas, including air assaults on bustling marketplaces.
The conflict has tragically claimed the lives of tens of thousands and displaced millions, with the country teetering on the brink of famine — a situation that the United Nations has called one of the gravest humanitarian crises globally.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the intensifying violence has forced over 120,000 individuals to flee southern Sudanese regions, namely Blue Nile, White Nile, and Sennar, to seek refuge in neighboring South Sudan, adding to the region’s mounting refugee crisis.
The ongoing bloodshed and resultant civilian turmoil underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive international response.
As the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, the potential for further international repercussions and diplomatic efforts remains closely observed by the global community.
This warning follows alarming reports of army-aligned militia engaging in ethnically-targeted attacks against minorities in Sudan’s Al-Jazira state.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan, fueled by a fierce battle between the national army and paramilitary factions known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has persisted since April 2023. This week, the army launched a significant offensive in Al-Jazira state, successfully reclaiming the capital, Wad Madani, from RSF control.
However, rights groups have reported at least 13 fatalities, including those of two children, resulting from ethnically-motivated violence in this agriculturally significant region.
Both the Sudanese national army and the RSF have faced accusations of ethnic violence.
These were further compounded on Thursday when the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Army Chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan.
The accusations leveled against the army include attacks on schools, marketplaces, and hospitals, alongside the strategic use of hunger as a weapon of war.
This followed a previous sanction against RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, with allegations of genocide facing his faction.
In response to U.S. officials' claims about the deployment of chemical weapons by the Sudanese army, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, indicated that due to restricted access, such allegations have not been specifically documented by the UN. However, Shamdasani confirmed that more research is required, labeling the current evidence as a major cause for concern.
Furthermore, the UN has identified the deployment of heavy armaments in civilian-occupied areas, including air assaults on bustling marketplaces.
The conflict has tragically claimed the lives of tens of thousands and displaced millions, with the country teetering on the brink of famine — a situation that the United Nations has called one of the gravest humanitarian crises globally.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the intensifying violence has forced over 120,000 individuals to flee southern Sudanese regions, namely Blue Nile, White Nile, and Sennar, to seek refuge in neighboring South Sudan, adding to the region’s mounting refugee crisis.
The ongoing bloodshed and resultant civilian turmoil underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive international response.
As the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, the potential for further international repercussions and diplomatic efforts remains closely observed by the global community.
