The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan has warned that the use of heavy weapons in densely populated areas has become more prevalent as a result of the country’s civil war, with disastrous consequences for civilians.
The Sudanese conflict is still ongoing, according to Mohamed Chande Othman, the head of the UN Human Rights Council, on Tuesday.
“Human suffering is getting worse every day. An ever-deadlier crisis is being fueled by the fragmentation of government, the militarization of society, and the involvement of foreign actors.
According to UN data, the brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in April 2023, which left tens of thousands of civilians dead and more than 13 million people displaced.
Sudan is currently experiencing the “worst humanitarian crisis” according to a previous UN statement.
According to the mission, both sides increased the use of heavy weapons in densely populated areas. Six civilians were killed in a May drone strike by an RSF-led attack on Obeid International Hospital in North Kordofan, and at least 15 were killed earlier this month by an SAF bombing in Al Koma.
According to the group, the SAF, which imposed bureaucratic restrictions, and the RSF, which looted convoys and blocked aid, were also using aid.
Additionally, the mission found that there is a significant rise in sexual and gender-based violence, most recently in RSF-controlled displacement camps, including gang rape, abduction, sexual slavery, and forced marriage.
What started out as a political and security crisis, according to Mona Rishmawi, a member of the fact-finding mission, has turned into “a grave human rights and protection emergency, marked by international crimes that stain all involved.”
She said, “It is unconscionable that this devastating war is now entering its third year with no sign of end.”
Since Omar al-Bashir, Sudan’s long-time leader, was ousted in 2019 following months of anti-government protests, the country has experienced growing instability.
Abdalla Hamdok, the prime minister’s resignation in early 2022 was the result of the Sudanese military’s coup attempt in October of that year.
After the coup, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the army chief of Sudan, and his rival Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the RSF’s leader, shared power, but in April 2023, they started fighting for state and resources.
The Sudanese Army accused Khalifa Haftar’s forces of attacking Sudanese border posts last week, marking the first time it had ever charged its neighbor in the northwestern region with directly engaging in civil war.
Source: Aljazeera
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