According to the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), he High Commissioner for Human RightsVolker Türk, held telephone conversations on Tuesday with Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, and with General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who heads the rival Rapid Support Forces.
This intervention by Türk attempts to stop the spiral of violence in Sudan, which is having a terrifying impact on millions of civilians who, according to aid workers, “face famine.”
Diplomatic approach
The High Commissioner for Human Rights urged both to act immediately, and publicly, to defuse the situation, said Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani, who she noted had previously addressed the rival generals in November 2022.
“He warned both commanders that the fighting in El-Fasher, where more than 1.8 million residents and internally displaced persons are currently surrounded and at imminent risk of famine, would have a catastrophic impact on civilians, and would deepen the inter-communal conflict with consequences disastrous humanitarian actions,” Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva.
Likewise, Türk “reminded commanders of their obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure strict compliance with the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, and put an end to any ongoing violations, as well as ensure accountability for violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law committed by their respective forces and allies.”
Caught in the escalation of violence
After more than a year of war, the staggering number of 25 million people, including 14 million children, are without humanitarian aid. Millions of people have been repeatedly displaced, becoming increasingly vulnerable, and aid teams have repeatedly warned that famine is approaching, with the rainy season approaching.
UN Human Rights expressed concern about the ongoing and long-lasting impact of the conflict across Sudan, while highlighting the grave situation affecting civilians caught up in the escalating violence in and around El Fasher, Darfur.
According to it, at least 58 civilians have been killed and another 213 have lost their lives since fighting in this northern Darfur city dramatically escalated last week.
Disease and famine are coming
Echoing the concern about the emergency situation, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs from the ONU (OCHA), warned that diseases are getting closer and people are “staring famine in the face”.
The joint UN response plan aims to reach and help 15 million of the most affected people, but $2.7 billion is urgently needed.
To date, humanitarian organizations have only received 12% of the total and, without an immediate injection of funds, OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke warned that aid teams “will not be able to expand in time to avoid famine and prevent further deprivation.”
He added that the funds would be used to “provide more food, health services, shelter, water and sanitation, but also to prevent sexual and gender-based violence, help victims and support the reopening of schools for out-of-school children.”
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