Thousands Trapped Without Safe Passage as Indiscriminate Attacks Continue; UN Calls for Immediate End to Violence in Sudan’s North Darfur State
Geneva [Switzerland], December 21: The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has reported that at least 782 civilians have been killed and over 1,143 injured amid the prolonged siege and hostilities in El Fasher, the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur State.
The report paints a grim picture of civilians trapped in dire conditions, lacking safe passage, and facing constant threats from indiscriminate attacks by both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), along with their allied groups.
Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned the situation, describing it as “devastating lives on a massive scale.” He urged the RSF to end the siege immediately and called on all conflicting parties to cease hostilities against civilians and adhere to international humanitarian laws.
The conflict, which began seven months ago, has turned El Fasher into a relentless battleground, with heavy artillery shelling, airstrikes, and explosive weapons being deployed in densely populated areas. The report highlights “serious violations of international law” and warns that these attacks could amount to war crimes.
Devastating Civilian Toll
In June, a significant escalation in hostilities saw dozens of civilians killed in their homes, marketplaces, and near hospitals. Survivors described scenes of bodies left unattended in the streets for days due to the ongoing shelling.
The Al-Saudi Maternity Hospital, the last operational public hospital in El Fasher, has been repeatedly shelled, severely limiting access to surgical operations and reproductive health services.
Additionally, internally displaced person (IDP) camps, including Zamzam and Abu Shouk, have faced multiple attacks, further worsening the humanitarian crisis. Zamzam camp, home to hundreds of thousands of displaced people, has endured repeated shelling, leaving at least 15 displaced civilians dead.
Urgent Call for Action
Volker Turk warned that any large-scale assault on Zamzam camp or El Fasher city could escalate the already dire humanitarian situation to catastrophic levels, potentially triggering famine conditions.
He emphasized the urgent need for international intervention and called on all parties to engage in mediation efforts aimed at halting the violence and ensuring safe passage for civilians.
“All efforts must be taken to prevent such an attack and to halt the siege,” Turk stated, urging global leaders to prioritize Sudan’s escalating humanitarian crisis.
