Sudan: Human Rights Commissioner calls for halt to attacks on Al-Fasher

 Friday, December 20, 2024

Islamabad (UrduPoint News Toady / Pakistan Point News - 20th December, 2024 ) The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has called for an end to the attacks on Al-Fasher, the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur state, saying that the siege and fighting are causing heavy human losses and cannot be allowed to continue.

In a statement, the High Commissioner called on all warring parties to cease attacks on civilians and civilian objects and ensure compliance with their obligations and commitments under international law.

According to a report released by the United Nations Office for Human Rights (OHCHR), Sudan’s military faction ‘Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) has been besieging Al-Fasher for seven months.

During this time, at least 782 civilians have been killed and more than 1,143 injured.

Destruction in urban areas

The report, based on interviews with 52 people who managed to escape from El Fasher, says that RSF is carrying out continuous and intense bombing of densely populated areas, while the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) continues to conduct airstrikes and artillery shelling against the opposition.

The High Commissioner has warned that attacks on civilians and civilian objects may amount to war crimes.

The OHCHR report states that dozens of civilians were killed in their homes, markets and streets in the intense attacks on the city in June. In the southern area of ​​​​Al-Thawra, the worst shelling and exchange of fire made it impossible for civilians to pick up bodies lying on the streets for several days.

The report states that the Saudi Maternity Hospital is the only government-run medical facility in the city that provides surgical and sexual and reproductive health services. However, RSF is also continuously bombing this hospital. In addition, there have been reports of an increase in sexual violence since the siege began.

Fears of a major attack

The Zamzam refugee camp near El Fasher, home to millions of displaced people, has been the target of six attacks by the RSF, killing at least 15 people.

The area has seen a large-scale increase in military activity by warring factions, while tribal-based militants are also gathering in the state, raising fears of a major attack in the area in the coming days.

The High Commissioner said that any such attack on Zamzam camp and El Fasher would be devastating and could further worsen the humanitarian situation in the area, which is already suffering.

He urged the international community to take steps to prevent such an attack, while the warring parties engage in good faith peace talks to end the cycle of death and destruction.