UN Rights Chief Urges Action to Protect Civilians in Sudan

Families who fled El Fasher in North Darfur, seek refuge in a camp for displaced people. (file)

UN human rights chief Volker Türk on Thursday warned that civilians in Sudan’s El Fasher face the imminent risk of large-scale atrocities, as fighting intensifies around the regional capital of North Darfur, besieged for more than 500 days by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia.

“El Fasher is on the precipice of an even greater catastrophe if urgent measures are not taken to loosen the armed vice on the city and to protect civilians,” he said.

Reports of RSF deploying long-range drones in South Darfur have heightened fears of escalation in the coming days.

Between 19 and 29 September, at least 91 civilians were killed in artillery shelling, drone strikes, and ground incursions. Civilian infrastructure has been repeatedly targeted, raising fears of forcible displacement, including from the Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced people.

Neighbourhoods sheltering displaced communities in and around the last Government-held city in Darfur have been struck repeatedly. On 19 September, a drone attack on a mosque killed at least 67 civilians. Two market strikes in Daraja Oula followed last week, and on 30 September, credible reports indicated that 23 civilians were killed when a community kitchen in Abu Shouk was shelled.

Mr. Türk stressed that those remaining in El Fasher – including the elderly, people with disabilities, and those with chronic illnesses – must be protected.

“Safe and voluntary passage of civilians must be ensured out of El Fasher, and along key exit routes and checkpoints controlled by different armed actors,” he said, citing persistent reports of executions, torture, abductions, and looting.

He warned of ethnically motivated abuses similar to those reported during the RSF offensive on Zamzam camp in April, when sexual violence targeted Zaghawa women and girls. He also called for “immediate and unhindered access” for humanitarian aid, as residents face dwindling food, water, and health care.

“With supplies dwindling daily and prices skyrocketing, the recent attack on one of the few remaining community kitchens will further diminish what remains of the right to food,” Mr. Türk warned.

He renewed his call for the siege to be lifted and humanitarian access ensured.

“Atrocities are not inevitable; they can be averted if all actors take concrete action to uphold international law, respect civilian life and property, and prevent the continued commission of atrocity crimes,” he said.