Geneva: The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric, on Monday called on all parties to the conflict in and around the Sudanese city of El-Fasher to ensure the protection of civilians. According to Kuwait News Agency, Spoljaric issued a statement from Geneva emphasizing the need for unimpeded access to lifesaving humanitarian assistance for those in need and for humanitarian workers to safely carry out their duties. She stressed that hospitals, homes, and vital infrastructure must be spared from attacks. Spoljaric also highlighted that civilians and all those no longer participating in the fighting, including the captured, injured, and sick, must be treated humanely and with respect. She reiterated that the protection of civilians remains a fundamental principle of international humanitarian law. She stated that for over two and a half years, civilians in El-Fasher have been caught in a besieged city, enduring relentless fighting and severe deprivation of food, medical care, and other essentials for survival. Spoljaric warned that as the battle for control over El-Fasher intensifies, thousands are fleeing their homes. Many remain unable to leave and live in constant fear of what may come next. She noted that violence against civilians has repeatedly escalated whenever control shifts between warring parties, stressing that this pattern must stop immediately.
