Geneva: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Thursday deplored the killing of dozens of civilians amid ongoing hostilities in Sudan's Kordofan region over the past week.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the UN Human Rights Office issued a statement from Geneva verifying the killing of at least 60 civilians by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Bara locality of North Kordofan since July 10. Civil society groups have reported that up to 300 people were killed during this period.
"It is distressing that more than two years since the conflict began, parties to the conflict in Sudan continue to demonstrate callous disregard for civilians' lives and safety," said Turk.
The statement highlighted worrying reports that the RSF was mobilizing for an offensive on El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state. The UN Human Rights Chief also expressed continued concern for the safety of civilians in El-Fasher in North Darfur following multiple RSF attacks on the besieged city in recent days. These included a ground attack on July 11-12, which reportedly resulted in civilian casualties.
Turk emphasized that an escalation of hostilities in North Darfur and Kordofan would further aggravate the severe risks to civilians and the dire humanitarian situation in the conflict. He urged influential parties to act to prevent such an escalation and ensure that both warring parties uphold their obligations under international law, including the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Turk renewed his calls for warring parties to ensure safe, sustained, and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid, including through humanitarian pauses. He urged for the prevention and repression of violations of international law.
"All alleged violations must be fully and independently investigated and those responsible brought to justice," he stressed.