In Khartoum, Sudan, civilians are increasingly targeted as violence escalates between SAF and RSF, with numerous casualties reported. Reports of looting, arbitrary arrests, and sexual violence have emerged, worsening the humanitarian crisis. OCHA urges protection for civilians and access to aid, especially in areas like Zamzam camp facing severe conditions.
The situation in Khartoum, Sudan, has escalated dangerously, with reports from the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) indicating numerous civilian casualties due to artillery shelling and airstrikes. Local humanitarian volunteers are among the deceased, as violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensifies, impacting innocent civilians disproportionately.
Credible accounts describe RSF fighters and affiliated militias conducting home raids in eastern Khartoum, resulting in summary executions, arbitrary detentions, and theft of essential goods from community kitchens and medical facilities. Furthermore, concerning allegations of sexual violence have emerged from the Al Giraif Gharb neighborhood, as highlighted by spokesperson Seif Magango from OHCHR.
Reports are emerging of SAF-aligned fighters engaged in similar criminal activities, including looting in Khartoum North (Bahri) and East Nile. The situation has led to widespread arbitrary arrests, compounding the chaos in these areas where civilians are increasingly caught in the conflict.
The humanitarian crisis grows more severe in Omdurman and Khartoum, with residential areas becoming frequent targets. OCHA reported a recent drone strike in East Khartoum that claimed five women’s lives and injured multiple others. Artillery fire in Karari, north of Omdurman, resulted in several deaths and left over 40 people, including children, injured. Urgent calls for the protection of civilians and infrastructure have been reiterated by OCHA.
In North Darfur, conditions are similarly critical, with clashes around El Fasher causing mass displacement to Zamzam camp, which is currently besieged and facing famine. Access to essential services and resources is dangerously limited, blocking relief from reaching vulnerable populations. Water delivery has been halted due to security concerns, raising fears of waterborne diseases developing in the crowded camp.
Both the UN and various humanitarian agencies are pressing for a de-escalation of violence and urging all parties to prioritize civilian safety and facilitate humanitarian efforts. OHCHR has once again emphasized the need for concrete actions by both opposing forces and nations influencing them to protect civilians and restore order amidst the ongoing lawlessness in Sudan.
The escalating violence in Khartoum and the surrounding areas has led to significant civilian casualties and a deteriorating humanitarian crisis. Key humanitarian agencies are calling for urgent action to protect civilians and provide essential aid. Both local and international entities must prioritize de-escalation and ensure unhindered access to relief efforts for those most affected by the conflict.
Original Source: news.un.org
