“We’re deeply concerned about the plight of civilians in Wad Madani. Amid fear and panic, many thousands of people have fled the city in recent days,” Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, said.
Wad Madani, capital of El Gazira State, is a major city about 170 km (105 miles) southeast of the capital Khartoum.
In a Tuesday press statement, Chagutah urged the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Sport Forces (RSF) to protect civilians and to ensure safe passage for those wanting to leave areas affected by violence.
He pointed out that Wad Madani has also been serving as a hub for humanitarian operations since the conflict in Sudan started eight months ago and reports of the suspension of aid operations due to insecurity is compounding an already dire situation.
Chagutah called on all parties to the conflict in Sudan to ensure unhindered and immediate humanitarian access to all civilians in need, within and outside Wad Madani
“The Sudanese people have endured eight months of unimaginable horror, with mass civilian casualties suffered in both deliberate and indiscriminate attacks by the warring parties, as well as sexual violence against women and girls, targeted attacks on civilian objects such as hospitals and churches, and extensive looting. We call for respect of international humanitarian law, including an end to all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure,” he said.
The RSF’s entry into Wad Madani has caused up to 300,000 people to flee the area, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Monday.
An escalation in violence took place in April 2023 after weeks of tensions between the army and the SAF over security force reform during negotiations for a new transitional government. In a report published in August, ‘Death Came To Our Home’: War Crimes and Civilian Suffering In Sudan, Amnesty International documented extensive war crimes being committed by the army and RSF in the conflict.