civilians live in a climate of “pure terror”, denounces the UN

“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 Turk, 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 army of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane and the Rapid Support Forces (FSR, paramilitary) of General Mohammed Hamdane Daglo, former number two in military power. Volker Turk reported thousands of people killed, “apparently without remorse”. At least 14,600 people have been killed and 26,000 injured, although the actual toll is likely to be much higher. And the belligerents “created a climate of pure terror, forcing millions of people to flee”, he insisted.

Around 25 million people, or more than half the population, need aid, including almost 18 million facing acute food insecurity, according to the UN. A report submitted to the UN 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 Turk, who also expressed deep concern for the thousands of civilians arbitrarily detained.