The UN denounces the murder of people trying to flee El-Geneina (Sudan)

June 25 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights denounced this Saturday the murders committed by armed militias backed by the Rapid Support Forces against people trying to leave the city of El-Geneina, capital of Darfur on foot. Occidental, towards Adre, in Chad, fleeing the violence.

“El-Geneina has become uninhabitable. Essential infrastructure has been destroyed and the movement of humanitarian aid continues to be blocked,” said Office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani.

He added that they have heard “terrifying” testimonies from people who have managed to escape and who have stated that the “Arab” militias mainly target adult men from the Masalit community.

The interviewees state that they have seen decomposing corpses scattered along the road. “Several people spoke of dozens of bodies in an area known as Shukri, about 10 km from the border with Chad, where one or more of the Arab militias allegedly have a base,” the spokeswoman denounced.

The testimonies give an account of murders on June 15 and 16, but also last week. “We understand that the killings and other acts of violence continue and are accompanied by persistent hate speech against the Masalit community, including calls to kill them and expel them from Sudan,” Shamdasani said.

Among some statements, a 37-year-old man has related that of his group of 30 people who were fleeing towards the border with Chad, only 17 managed to cross. Some died after being shot at by vehicles belonging to the Rapid Support Forces and “Arab” militia near the Chadian border, while others were summarily executed. Those who survived had their phones and money stolen by armed men shouting: “You are slaves, you are Nuba.”

For this reason, the High Commissioner for Human Rights has asked the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces to immediately and unequivocally condemn these actions and stop the murder of people fleeing El-Geneina and other acts of violence and speech by hate for ethnic reasons.

They have also called for the immediate establishment of a humanitarian corridor between Chad and El-Geneina, and safe passage for civilians out of areas affected by hostilities.