civilians live in a climate of “pure terror” because of a “ruthless and senseless conflict”, denounces the UN

War has been raging for almost a year in the country, between the regular army of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane and the FSR paramilitaries of General Mohammed Hamdane Daglo, former number two in military power.

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Refugees who fled the war in Sudan, February 14, 2024 in Renk (South Sudan).  (LUIS TATO / AFP)

“Sudan has become a real nightmare.” Sudanese civilians live in a climate of “pure terror” due to “ruthless and senseless conflict” which is upsetting their country and endangering regional peace, declared the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, Friday March 1. “The crisis in Sudan is a tragedy that seems to have slipped into the fog of global amnesia”he denounced before the UN Human Rights Council.

War has raged since April 15, 2023 in Sudan, between the regular army of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane and the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (FSR) of General Mohammed Hamdane Daglo, former number two in military power. Volker Türk reported thousands of people killed, “apparently without remorse”. At least 14,600 people have died and 26,000 others have been injured, although the actual toll is likely to be much higher. The belligerents forced “millions of people to flee”, he insisted.

“Sexual violence as a weapon of war”

Around 25 million people, more than half the population, need aid, including nearly 18 million facing acute food insecurity, according to the UN. A report submitted to the Human Rights Council highlights flagrant violations of international human rights law committed by the belligerents between April and December.

The document also details serious violations of international humanitarian law, many of which may constitute war crimes. “Sexual violence as a weapon of war, including rape, has been a defining and despicable feature of this crisis”underlined Volker Türk, who also said he was deeply concerned for the thousands of civilians arbitrarily detained.


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