The war between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Sapid Support Forces is growing in scope and brutality, worsening an already complex humanitarian emergency, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) warned on Tuesday.
“The war that erupted without warning turned previously peaceful Sudanese homes into cemeteries,” said Dominique Hyde, Director of External Relations at UNHCR.
She visited the country last week, and witnessed a surge in human suffering.
“Away from the eyes of the world and the news headlines, the conflict in Sudan continues to rage. Across the country, an unimaginable humanitarian crisis is unfolding, as more and more people are displaced by the relentless fighting,” Ms. Hyde added.
Within Sudan, 4.5 million people have been internally displaced since April, when the war began on 15 April, while a further 1.2 million – mostly women and girls – fled to neighbouring countries, including Chad.
Repeat of atrocities in Darfur
The UNHCR official highlighted the situation in the volatile Darfur region, where fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused even more displacement with thousands struggling to find shelter and many sleeping under trees by the roadside.
“We are very concerned about them not having access to food, shelter, clean drinking water or other basic essentials,” she said.
“It is shameful that the atrocities committed 20 years ago in Darfur can be happening again today with such little attention.”
In July, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) launched an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the region, following the discovery of mass graves of some 87 members of the ethnic Masalit community, allegedly killed by the RSF and affiliated militia.