UN Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Civilians in El Fasher

The UN Human Rights Office called on Monday for urgent and concrete action to ensure the protection of civilians in besieged El Fasher, North Darfur, Sudan.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stated in a statement that “initial reports indicate an extremely dangerous situation in El Fasher since the Rapid Support Forces announced their control of the headquarters of the Sudanese Army’s Sixth Infantry Division yesterday, Sunday.”

The UN official warned of “the risk of further widespread, tribally motivated violations and atrocities in El Fasher escalating by the day,” stressing “the need for urgent and concrete action to ensure the protection of civilians in El Fasher and to secure safe passage for those trying to reach relative safety.”

Amid the acute food shortage and soaring prices, the High Commissioner noted that his office had also received disturbing reports of the execution of five men by members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for attempting to bring food supplies into the city, which has been under siege by the RSF for 18 months.

He continued, “The RSF must urgently take concrete steps to stop and prevent violations against civilians in El Fasher, including tribally motivated violence and revenge attacks,” while reminding the RSF of “their obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure the protection of civilians and the passage of essential supplies and humanitarian aid.”

He also emphasized that “international humanitarian law prohibits violence against individuals no longer participating in hostilities and strictly prohibits the use of starvation as a weapon of war.”