UN Rights Chief appalled by continued killing of civilians in Sudan
The UN Human Rights Office has confirmed that at least 46 civilians were killed in artillery and drone strikes in the Abu Shouk and Daraja Oula neighbourhoods and the Abu Shouk IDP camp.
The United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has condemned the "wanton disregard for civilian life," after a series of attacks on civilians and public facilities in Sudan by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
This follows reports that at least 53 civilians were killed and more than 60 injured by the RSF between October 5 and October 8 alone, with preliminary reports indicating that the figure could even be higher.
"I am appalled by the RSF's endless and wanton disregard for civilian life. Despite repeated calls, including my own, for specific care to be taken to protect civilians, they continue instead to kill, injure, and displace civilians, and to attack civilian objects, including IDP shelters, hospitals, and mosques, with total disregard for international law. This must end," said Türk in a statement.
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The UN Human Rights Office has confirmed that at least 46 civilians were killed in artillery and drone strikes in the Abu Shouk and Daraja Oula neighbourhoods and the Abu Shouk IDP camp.
This includes at least 14 civilians who were killed during attacks on October 5 and October 7 on the Saudi Hospital, the last major functioning health care facility in North Darfur, which has repeatedly come under attack and has been operating at a reduced capacity before suffering further substantial damage in these latest attacks.
Its data shows that at least seven other civilians were reportedly executed in home-to-home searches during RSF ground attacks.
"Initial information indicates that these killings may have been ethnically motivated, targeting members of the Zaghawa community," the office noted.
The conflict does not seem to subside, according to the Sudan Tribune, at least 10 people were killed and others injured yesterday in artillery and drone strikes by the RSF targeting El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.
"Since dawn on Friday, the RSF has launched artillery shelling on large parts of El Fasher and has also attacked several locations with drones. Local sources said that Friday's RSF shelling killed more than 10 civilians and wounded others," the paper reported.
Since May last year, the RSF has subjected El Fasher to a tight siege in an attempt to complete its control over the entire Darfur region, having seized the capitals of South, West, Central, and East Darfur states in 2023.
"I urge the RSF, indeed all parties to the conflict, to draw lessons from this week's conviction of Ali Kushayb by the International Criminal Court for the war crimes and crimes against humanity he committed in Darfur," the UN Rights Chief urged.
Ali Kushayb was convicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the war crimes and crimes against humanity he committed in Darfur, through his Janjaweed militia.
"The RSF reportedly grew out of the Janjaweed militias, and its leadership began in 2013," the UN stated.
The High Commissioner also reiterated his call for UN Member States with direct influence to take urgent measures to protect civilians and to prevent further atrocities in El Fasher and across Darfur.
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