Global coalition warns 500,000 civilians at risk in Sudan’s El Obeid
June 18, 2026 (GENEVA) – A coalition of 29 nations issued a grave warning at the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday, stating that approximately 500,000 civilians are at risk of large-scale atrocities in the Sudanese city of El Obeid amid an escalating military assault.
Norway delivered the joint statement on behalf of the Coalition for Atrocity Prevention and Justice for Sudan and 21 other states, expressing deep alarm over the soaring risk of deliberate killings and imminent escalation on the ground.
The signatory nations revealed that 10 consecutive days of drone strikes have killed at least 50 civilians across El Obeid and North Kordofan, while causing significant damage to vital civilian infrastructure.
The coalition highlighted widespread, credible reports of ethnically targeted violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, in the region.
The statement explicitly called on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to immediately cease their assault on El Obeid. The targeted population includes more than 100,000 internally displaced persons who had previously sought refuge in the city.
In tandem with the rising tensions, Rapid Support Forces activists broadcasted several videos on social media platforms showing armoured military vehicles mobilized in areas surrounding El Obeid, including Sodari, Jabrat al-Sheikh, Hamrat al-Sheikh, Umm Badr, Bara, and Umm Siyala.
Meanwhile, on the military front, Brigadier General Mohamed Fadl Youssef Al-Rasheed, second-in-command of the Sudanese army’s 5th Infantry “Haggana” Division, inspected front-line positions across North Kordofan. Accompanied by the division’s training chief, Colonel Ibrahim Abu Bakr Khatir, Al-Rasheed reviewed operational readiness and morale, asserting that the army remains committed to securing the state and protecting civilians.
The UN member states urged all warring parties to comply fully with international humanitarian law, demanding that civilians be allowed to leave conflict zones freely and safely. They also pressed for unhindered access for humanitarian actors backed by credible security guarantees.
Additionally, the coalition called on the international community to apply maximum pressure on both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), alongside their respective allies, to prevent further atrocities.
The core coalition comprises Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sierra Leone, and the United Kingdom, with broader support from over 20 other nations, including Australia, Belgium, Spain, and Sweden.