UN Condemns Humanitarian Crisis Amid Rising Violence in Sudan
The UN condemned the escalating violence in Sudan and the rising civilian casualties stemming from the armed conflict between SAF and RSF. Both factions have violated international humanitarian law, leading to severe humanitarian crises in Khartoum and North Darfur. The UN has raised alarms about potential famine and warned that without intervention, conditions may deteriorate further.
The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has issued a condemnation regarding the increasing violence and civilian casualties in Sudan amid ongoing armed conflict. The pronounced statement follows a surge in hostilities between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum and its surrounding regions, noting a blatant disregard for international humanitarian law by both parties.
The OHCHR’s statement underscored reports of RSF and SAF-affiliated fighters engaging in looting of civilian resources, as well as carrying out arbitrary detentions and summary executions. Furthermore, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) revealed that a recent drone attack in East Khartoum’s Imtedaad Nasir area resulted in the deaths of five women and injuries to several others.
Additionally, artillery shelling in Karari, located north of Omdurman, reportedly caused multiple fatalities and left over 40 individuals, including children, injured. As the conflict escalates, residential areas are increasingly being targeted, exacerbating the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Conditions in North Darfur have reached catastrophic levels as armed clashes around El Fasher have led to mass displacement, compelling many to seek refuge in Zamzam camp. OCHA highlighted that access to food, water, and medical supplies is severely restricted due to checkpoints around the camp, overwhelming aid agencies and deepening the crisis.
The UN has sounded alarms regarding a looming famine crisis in North Darfur, predicting dire consequences as a result of RSF attacks in February 2025 on villages within White Nile state. The principle of distinction, a core tenet of international humanitarian law, necessitates that all parties in conflict differentiate between civilians and combatants, and the deliberate disregard of this principle may constitute a war crime under the Rome Statute.
In light of these developments, the UN’s concerns over the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan were echoed on March 11, when the intense conflict compelled the UN World Food Programme to temporarily suspend its humanitarian aid operations. Furthermore, the African Union characterized the situation in Sudan as one of the most severe crises globally.
The United Nations has expressed grave concerns regarding the escalating violence and humanitarian suffering in Sudan resulting from the conflict between SAF and RSF. Violations of international humanitarian law, including the targeting of civilians and essential resources, have exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation. The UN and other organizations warn of an impending famine crisis, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention to alleviate the crisis and support displaced populations in affected regions.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
