The UN has called on the international community to urgently step up efforts to end Sudan’s war, saying it had documented grave human rights violations during its three-week mission to neighboring Chad.
A UN press release on Tuesday said the Fact-Finding Mission visited Chad from June 30 to July 18. The mission met with victims and survivors of the conflict as well as members of Sudanese civil society, the diplomatic community and the UN country team.
The statement explained that the Mission traveled to eastern Chad, including to Adre, Farchana and Abeche.
“While the Mission acknowledges the tremendous efforts made by Chadian authorities and UN entities as well as other humanitarian first-line responders, it is clear that needs exceed the available support.
“This crisis requires the support of the international community as a whole,” the statement quoted Mohamed Chande Othman, Chair of the Fact-Finding Mission.
“UN entities and humanitarian groups are in dire need of greater financial and other assistance to ensure Sudanese refugees and Chadian returnees have access to basic facilities, including nutrition, hygienic needs, health care, and education,” Othman was further quoted.
The UN Mission also called on the international community to boost humanitarian support to the Chadian communities hosting refugees, citing the immense pressure they were under. The Chadian border town of Adre alone is hosting more than 200,000 Sudanese refugees, at least five times its original size, the UN statement said.
The Fact-Finding Mission also heard views on the steps that could and should be taken to break the recurring cycle of violence, and ensure accountability for those involved in atrocities, as well
Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has killed thousands of people since it began in mid-April last year. More than 26 million people urgently need aid and were food insecure. Over 10 million civilians have been displaced internally, and more than two million refugees have fled the country, according to the UN. Over 600.000 of those ended up in Chad.