Escalating Violence in Sudan: Civilians Suffer Amidst Conflict
The UN reports escalating violence in Khartoum, with civilian casualties rising due to conflict between SAF and RSF. Human rights violations include summary killings and looting. The humanitarian crisis is worsening, particularly in Omdurman and North Darfur, prompting urgent calls for ceasefire and humanitarian access.
Recent reports from the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) indicate a significant escalation of violence in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, leading to numerous civilian casualties, including humanitarian volunteers. The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces (RSF), is wreaking havoc on the civilian population. Alarming accounts suggest that RSF operatives have conducted home raids, resulting in summary executions, arbitrary detentions, and the looting of essential supplies from local facilities.
The situation is further exacerbated by credible allegations of sexual violence in neighborhoods such as Al Giraif Gharb, according to spokesperson Seif Magango. Concurrently, SAF-affiliated forces have engaged in similar acts of looting and have executed numerous arbitrary arrests in Khartoum North (Bahri) and East Nile, compounding the humanitarian crisis.
Conditions in Omdurman and Khartoum continue to deteriorate, with residential neighborhoods frequently subjected to attacks. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that a drone strike in East Khartoum resulted in five women’s fatalities, while artillery shelling in Karari led to numerous injuries, including children. In light of these developments, OCHA has made urgent appeals for all factions to refrain from targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.
In North Darfur, armed clashes have prompted thousands to seek refuge in the beleaguered Zamzam camp, presently enduring a siege amidst famine conditions. Resources are severely limited, with checkpoints impeding civilian movement and restricting access to essential humanitarian aid. Water delivery has also been halted, raising concerns about potential waterborne disease outbreaks within the camp community.
OCHA has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities across Sudan and urged for unrestricted humanitarian access to provide vital assistance to those in need. In response to the worsening crisis, the UN and humanitarian organizations have stressed the significance of civilian protection and the necessity of allowing safe passage for aid deliveries. OHCHR has reiterated its demand for both combatant parties to adopt concrete measures to safeguard civilians and address ongoing lawlessness and impunity.
The conflict in Sudan has reached alarming levels, resulting in severe consequences for civilians in Khartoum and surrounding regions. As the violence escalates with ongoing artillery shelling and airstrikes, humanitarian conditions deteriorate further, compelling urgent action from both warring factions and international stakeholders. The plight of displaced individuals, particularly in North Darfur, underscores the necessity for immediate humanitarian assistance and effective protections for civilians. Without concerted efforts to de-escalate the violence and ensure access to critical aid, the situation may worsen dramatically.
Original Source: www.miragenews.com
