Sudan Conflit: UN condemns militias human rights violations
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The United Nations on Thursday strongly condemned what it described as the indiscriminate targeting of civilian populations and public facilities by the Rapid Support Forces and its allied militias, within the ongoing fighting in the Sudan.
In a statement it issued on Thursday, the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) said it was “gravely concerned about the severe impact” of the fighting between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) supported by Arab militias and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on civilians in the Darfur region.
The statement said UNITAMS strongly condemns the indiscriminate targeting of civilian populations and public facilities by the RSF and allied militias, particularly in the locality of Sirba, 45 kilometers north of El Geneina in West Darfur, from 24 to 26 July 2023.
The statement said the Mission is also concerned by similar incidents in Nyala, South Darfur, and Zalingei, Central Darfur.
“I am alarmed by reports indicating that civilians are being prevented from leaving for safer areas, resulting in numerous casualties. These reports are reminiscent of the violations committed in El Geneina, West Darfur, last June,” the statement quoted Volker Perthes, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNITAMS, as saying.
“We are documenting all the violations and I recall that these heinous acts are serious violations of the human rights of civilians and may constitute war crimes under international law. I remind all parties involved to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law to ensure the safety and protection of all civilians,” Perthes was quoted as adding.
The statement has underlined that UNITAMS urges all forces engaged in hostilities to cease their military operations immediately and called on them to resume the Jeddah-facilitated talks and reaffirms its commitment to support and facilitate efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict throughout Sudan.
“We stand in solidarity with the people of Darfur and remain dedicated to achieving lasting peace and stability in the region,” concludes Perthes.
On the other hand, the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pamela Patten, has urged the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to issue a formal undertaking condemning sexual violence and committing to prevent such violations.
The UN official has urged the RSF to issue “a formal undertaking in the form of a unilateral communiqué condemning conflict-related sexual violence and committing to effective measures to prevent and address any such violations with a time-bound implementation plan, as well as command orders that declare zero-tolerance for sexual violence as part of upholding military discipline.
-0-PANA MO/RA 3Aug2023
