Brussels: The European Union (EU) and several countries expressed on Wednesday grave concern over continued unlawful and deadly attacks on civilians, infrastructure, and humanitarian operations amid escalating fighting in the Kordofan and Darfur states.
According to Kuwait News Agency, in a joint statement, the EU said the recent surge in drone and aerial attacks targeting displaced people, health facilities, food convoys, and areas near humanitarian compounds have caused significant civilian casualties and further disrupted humanitarian access and supply lines.
The statement added that airstrikes in recent weeks hit trucks and warehouses of the World Food Programme (WFP) as well as health facilities, killing and severely injuring civilians and aid workers, while also destroying critical humanitarian supplies.
It stressed that deliberate attacks on humanitarian personnel and obstruction of relief aid violate international humanitarian law and may constitute as war crimes.
The statement described Darfur and Kordofan as the epicentres of the world's largest humanitarian and protection crisis, citing widespread gender-based violence, confirmed famine and escalating hunger, with up to 100,000 people displaced in Kordofan in recent months.
Quoting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, it warned that violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias in and around El Fasher last October risk being repeated in Kordofan, renewing calls on the Rapid Support Forces, the Sudanese Armed Forces, and allied militias to immediately cease hostilities.
The signatories strongly condemned violence against civilians, particularly women and children, and all serious violations of international humanitarian law, stressing that such acts may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity and must be promptly and impartially investigated.
They urged all parties to ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and protection of civilians and aid workers at all times, granting safe passage to those fleeing.
The statement was signed by EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib and Foreign Ministers and officials from various countries, mostly from the EU.