An international coalition of more than 29 countries has issued a strong warning to the United Nations Human Rights Council about the possibility of an imminent attack on the Sudanese city of el-Obeid by the country's paramilitary forces.
The warning came through a statement presented by Norway, speaking on behalf of the Coalition for Atrocity Prevention and Justice for Sudan. The coalition includes major nations like Britain, Canada, France, Germany, and several others who have joined forces to raise alarm about the deteriorating situation in Sudan.
The international community is particularly worried about the safety of about 500,000 civilians who are currently living in el-Obeid, which is one of Sudan's biggest cities and serves as the capital of North Kordofan state. This region has seen some of the heaviest fighting in recent months as the conflict continues to ravage the country.
According to the statement released on Thursday, the situation on the ground is extremely concerning. The coalition reported that drone strikes have been happening for ten consecutive days, killing at least 50 civilians across el-Obeid and the surrounding North Kordofan area. These attacks have also caused serious damage to civilian infrastructure, making life even harder for ordinary people trying to survive the conflict.
The coalition has called on all states to apply maximum pressure on both warring sides – the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces – to prevent further atrocities and ensure the protection of innocent civilians. They have also stressed the urgent need for humanitarian aid to reach those in need without any obstacles.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, also added his voice to the growing concern, warning that the people of el-Obeid have already been living under siege-like conditions for more than 18 months. He expressed fear that history might repeat itself, pointing to the preventable atrocities that were documented in al-Fasher and the Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur last year.
"This is a stark warning to the world about an impending human rights disaster," Turk said, urging countries with influence to use their power to stop the situation from getting worse.
The conflict in Sudan has now been going on for more than three years. Currently, the Sudanese army controls central and eastern parts of the country, while the RSF has strengthened its hold on Darfur in the west. The two sides are now fighting over the vast Kordofan region, which is crucial for agriculture and sits right between their territories.
In October last year, the RSF took over el-Fasher, a large city in Darfur that was once home to about one million people. That city had been under siege for 18 months before the final offensive began, leaving many people facing famine and suffering.
The United States and various rights organizations have accused the RSF of committing genocide in West Darfur during this conflict, which extends from long-running disputes over land and resources. However, the RSF has denied responsibility for ethnically motivated killings and has promised to hold accountable those found responsible for abuses.
Turk concluded his statement by emphasizing that the people of Sudan desperately need peace. He called for urgent measures to protect civilians and prevent further atrocities, including sexual violence, displacement, and the continued suffering of innocent people caught in the middle of this devastating conflict.
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