Photo UN/M. Elfatech The war in Sudan has forced more than 13 million people to flee their homes. ‘Stop this madness’: UN human rights chief warns of humanitarian disaster in Sudan’s El Obeid Peace and Security
The impending offensive on the capital of North Kordofan state could result in serious international crimes and threatens to further worsen the country’s catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned about this on Thursday.
Volker Türk made a statement on Sudan after reports of a significant build-up of Rapid Reaction Force units and their allies on the approaches to the city. The regrouping of troops is accompanied by increased drone strikes and artillery shelling.
Sudan has been mired in war since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the formerly allied Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Reaction Force. One of Africa’s largest countries is embroiled in a conflict that has created a dire humanitarian crisis.
The war has forced more than 13 million people from their homes, with millions more on the brink of famine, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). At the same time, humanitarian access remains extremely limited in large parts of Sudan. offensive.
“The Secretary-General calls on everyone who has influence on the parties to use it to prevent further bloodshed. We must not allow the horrors of El Fasher to be repeated in El Obeid,” the statement said. executions.
Secretary-General Guterres stressed that humanitarian organizations continue to provide assistance throughout Kordofan, despite the deteriorating security situation. Last week, drone strikes on residential areas in El Obeid killed an aid worker.
Siege-like conditions
There have been dozens of drone strikes in El Obeid over the past two weeks, mostly targeting gas stations and trucks. As a result, civilians died. Meanwhile, the people of El Obeid have been under siege-like conditions for more than a year and a half.
“States with influence must use it now to stop this madness,” said Volker Türk.
60~p>The High Commissioner drew a direct parallel with the crimes documented in El Fasher and the displaced persons camp Zamzam in North Darfur, warning that a similar scenario is now unfolding in North Kordofan.