Red Cross Condemns Killing of Five Volunteers in Sudan's Kordofan
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies condemns the killing of five volunteers and the disappearance of three others in North Kordofan, as violence escalates in the region.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has expressed its horror following the death of five Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers in Bara, North Kordofan state.
An additional three volunteers remain unaccounted for after an attack on Monday.
According to the IFRC, the slain volunteers were clearly identified by their Red Crescent vests and carried identification cards from the local branch, which should have provided them with protection.
The organization has stated that any assault on humanitarian teams is entirely inadmissible.
The incident occurred as the conflict between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rages on in the oil-rich Kordofan region.
This area has seen intense fighting, with the RSF claiming to have recaptured Bara on Saturday.
The United Nations agencies have expressed deep concern over the reported violence within the city.
The Sudanese Red Crescent was on a sanctioned mission in Bara to distribute food when the attack transpired.
Since April 2023, when the conflict began, the IFRC reports that the Sudanese Red Crescent has lost 21 colleagues in the line of duty.
Globally, this year alone, 25 Red Cross and Red Crescent staff members and volunteers have lost their lives while performing humanitarian work.
Reports from a war-monitoring group indicate widespread massacres in Kordofan, including in Bara following the RSF's claim of control.
The UN rights office has corroborated these reports, stating that summary executions of civilians by RSF fighters have been conducted in Bara after its recapture, with victims accused of supporting the Sudanese Armed Forces.
It is estimated that dozens of civilians have been killed.
Jacqueline Parlevliet, the head of the UN refugee agency's Port Sudan sub-office, has noted reports of violence and human rights violations from survivors in Bara.
This violence has triggered further displacement within North Kordofan.
There are concerns about a potential siege on El Obeid, which hosts tens of thousands of internally displaced Sudanese, potentially exacerbating humanitarian needs.
The incident highlights the ongoing struggle for humanitarian access amidst the escalating conflict.
An additional three volunteers remain unaccounted for after an attack on Monday.
According to the IFRC, the slain volunteers were clearly identified by their Red Crescent vests and carried identification cards from the local branch, which should have provided them with protection.
The organization has stated that any assault on humanitarian teams is entirely inadmissible.
The incident occurred as the conflict between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rages on in the oil-rich Kordofan region.
This area has seen intense fighting, with the RSF claiming to have recaptured Bara on Saturday.
The United Nations agencies have expressed deep concern over the reported violence within the city.
The Sudanese Red Crescent was on a sanctioned mission in Bara to distribute food when the attack transpired.
Since April 2023, when the conflict began, the IFRC reports that the Sudanese Red Crescent has lost 21 colleagues in the line of duty.
Globally, this year alone, 25 Red Cross and Red Crescent staff members and volunteers have lost their lives while performing humanitarian work.
Reports from a war-monitoring group indicate widespread massacres in Kordofan, including in Bara following the RSF's claim of control.
The UN rights office has corroborated these reports, stating that summary executions of civilians by RSF fighters have been conducted in Bara after its recapture, with victims accused of supporting the Sudanese Armed Forces.
It is estimated that dozens of civilians have been killed.
Jacqueline Parlevliet, the head of the UN refugee agency's Port Sudan sub-office, has noted reports of violence and human rights violations from survivors in Bara.
This violence has triggered further displacement within North Kordofan.
There are concerns about a potential siege on El Obeid, which hosts tens of thousands of internally displaced Sudanese, potentially exacerbating humanitarian needs.
The incident highlights the ongoing struggle for humanitarian access amidst the escalating conflict.
