The UN condemned the increasing civilian casualties in Sudan due to the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. Violations of international humanitarian law have escalated, leading to humanitarian crises in Khartoum and North Darfur. The situation continues to worsen as aid agencies struggle to provide necessary resources, prompting urgency for international intervention.
The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has issued a condemnation regarding the alarming increase in civilian casualties in Sudan amidst ongoing armed conflicts. This statement follows intensified clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), particularly in and around Khartoum, the country’s capital. Both factions have notably breached international humanitarian law and engaged in acts such as looting and arbitrary detentions.
In a recent report, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted a tragic drone strike in the Imtedaad Nasir area of East Khartoum, which resulted in the deaths of five women and injuries to several others. Additionally, artillery shelling in the Karari district, north of Omdurman, caused multiple fatalities and left over 40 individuals injured, including children. There is a growing concern regarding the targeting of residential neighborhoods, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The situation in North Darfur is equally dire, with armed confrontations in El Fasher displacing thousands and forcing many to seek refuge in Zamzam camp. OCHA reported that numerous checkpoints around the camp hinder civilian movement, severely restricting access to essential resources such as food, water, and medical care. Aid agencies are overwhelmed, and the warning of a famine crisis in North Darfur by February 2025 reinforces the urgency for immediate intervention to alleviate suffering. Recent RSF attacks on villages in White Nile state have compounded the crisis.
Fundamental to international humanitarian law is the principle of distinction, which mandates that combatants must differentiate between civilians and military targets. Violations of this principle can lead to accusations of war crimes under the Rome Statute. The UN further cautioned on March 11 regarding the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan, which has seen the UN World Food Programme temporarily halt its assistance. The African Union has designated Sudan as confronting one of the gravest crises globally.
The ongoing violence in Sudan has resulted in severe suffering for civilians, as highlighted by the recent statements from the United Nations. Alarmingly, international humanitarian law is being ignored by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The situation, particularly in North Darfur, reveals the urgent need for intervention as humanitarian aid is critically limited. The international community must prioritize the protection of civilians and address the escalating humanitarian crisis.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
