Sudan’s warring parties must halt fighting, protect civilians: UN

April 11, 2024 (GENEVA) – Sudan’s warring parties must commit to an immediate cease-fire, end attacks on civilians and ensure unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance for millions of people in desperate need of aid, a United Nations fact-finding mission said.

The statement issued on Friday comes as the deadly conflict edges into its second year.

Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has killed thousands of civilians and internally displaced over six million people since 15 April 2023.

According to the UN, however, while almost two million refugees have fled to neighbouring countries, nearly 24 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.

Figures from the UN also show that 18 million are suffering crisis levels of food insecurity.

“It’s beyond time for this devastating war to stop,” said Mohamed Chande Othman, chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan.

“The warring parties must bring an immediate end to all violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, and hold the perpetrators of serious human rights violations accountable for their acts,” he added.

Othman further expressed concerns that Sudan’s warring parties are legally obligated to protect civilians, but they have shown little regard for doing so.

“We are now investigating alarming reports of repeated attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools,” he stressed.

The Fact-Finding Mission said attacks on aid convoys and infrastructure have been reported in what appear to be clear violations of international humanitarian law.

“Aid agencies are persevering even though there have been attacks and looting of humanitarian convoys, personnel and warehouses,” said Mona Rishmawi, an expert member of the mission.

The expert said the mission is also investigating the deliberate blocking of humanitarian assistance destined for civilians living in areas controlled by the opposite side.

“The parties to the conflict must ensure and facilitate safe, free and unimpeded humanitarian access to civilian populations in grave need,” stressed Rishmawi.

Food security analysts warned of a serious risk of famine, especially in parts of the Darfur region.

The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) said cereal harvests have dropped by almost half compared to last year, and the price of grain has already doubled or tripled in war-affected areas.

“If rural populations cannot safely remain on their land to plant their crops or tend to their livestock, we will see a catastrophe,” said Joy Ezello, an expert member.

The Fact-Finding Mission, while citing the upcoming International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and its Neighbours due to be held in Paris on 15 April, said it hopes that the massive shortfall in donor funding, which has so far only covered six percent of the estimated 2.7 billion US dollars needed to address the crisis, will soon be addressed.

The Mission’s experts called for an immediate ceasefire and urged the warring parties in Sudan to commit to a comprehensive peace process.

The experts also urged UN member states to exert their influence on the warring parties to stop the fighting and immediately restore peace, justice and democracy in Sudan.

Reaffirming the imperative of ensuring accountability, the experts emphasized their commitment to fulfil their mandate to establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of all violations committed in relation to the conflict and to identify individuals and entities responsible.

“The Sudanese people have endured enough,” Othman stressed, adding that “The warring parties must find a path for peace and respect for human rights in Sudan.”

The Human Rights Council established the Fact-Finding Mission in October 2023 and one of its key tasks is “to investigate and establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of all alleged human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including those committed against refugees, and related crimes in the context of the ongoing armed conflict that began on 15 April 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces, Rapid Support Forces and other warring parties.

(ST)