Regional women’s group denounces ongoing “genocide” in West Darfur
June 18, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – A regional women’s group has strongly condemned the severe human rights violations taking place in West Darfur, declaring that the atrocities committed in El Geneina amount to genocide.
The outbreak of armed conflict in Khartoum last April triggered intercommunal violence in West Darfur State, leading to the deaths of hundreds of civilians at the hands of Arab militiamen supported by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
In a statement released on June 16, The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) highlighted that the clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF have resulted in over 1,000 deaths and 2,000 injuries in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur.
SIHA emphasized the need to acknowledge the RSF’s activities in El Geneina, including their mobilization and coordination with the ‘Arabized’ tribes in the region, as acts that constitute genocide.
“The acts of atrocities committed in El Geneina amount to genocide and war crimes against civilians and HRDs,” stated the report.
The regional group also reported that 37 women died due to childbirth complications, and nearly 200 dialysis patients died due to the collapse of healthcare services and attacks on hospitals.
On June 15, the RSF targeted civilians fleeing the capital city of West Darfur, resulting in numerous casualties, particularly among women and children. SIHA received eyewitness accounts of the RSF intercepting a convoy of 35 vehicles carrying women and children attempting to escape the area.
According to SIHA, there were 13 reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in El Geneina on June 8th and 9th. However, due to limited communication, the organization has not received further reports on this issue since that date.
The statement emphasized that human rights defenders (HRDs) have been specifically targeted, threatened, and attacked in their own homes. The RSF’s strategy appears to be aimed at forcing HRDs to leave the city, as their lives are in grave danger if they choose to remain.
On June 16, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced that wounded refugees from El Geneina continue to arrive for treatment at Adré Hospital in Chad.
Within a single day on June 15, the hospital received at least 242 wounded individuals, followed by another 348 on June 16. Over the past three days, Adré Hospital has received 622 injured patients, approximately 430 of whom require surgical care. Some patients are being referred to other hospitals in Abéché. The majority of injuries are gunshot wounds.
In a separate development, the governor of West Darfur was arrested and killed on June 14. However, the paramilitary forces responsible for his arrest claimed that uncontrolled militiamen killed him.
As the violence escalates and the humanitarian situation deteriorates, urgent international action is needed to protect the vulnerable population in West Darfur and address the ongoing atrocities committed in El Geneina.
(ST)