UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Tuesday, while briefing the media in New York, said the global body is alarmed by the reports of large-scale violence in different parts of Sudan.
He revealed that more than 150 people were reportedly killed in an attack on El Qutainah town, in White Nile State, on Sunday and that there were horrifying reports that dozens of women were raped and hundreds of families were forced to flee.
“At the same time, in North Darfur, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also warns that civilians in and around the Zamzam displacement camp continue to face grave threats to their safety due to the ongoing fighting,” Dujarric stated. “At least 17 civilians were reportedly killed – that’s at least what initial estimates are telling us – with many more wounded in the attack that took place yesterday (Monday).”
“Shelling reportedly destroyed parts of the main market in Zamzam, which is the primary source of supplies for residents in the camp,” he added. Zamzam is one of the areas in Sudan where famine has emerged.
According to the UN, following the escalation in North Darfur’s capital, Al Fasher, and surrounding areas, people have been seeking safety and shelter in Ad Dabbah, in the Northern state.
State authorities report that more than 3,100 people from North Darfur – mostly older people, wounded people, and others with chronic diseases – have arrived in Ad Dabbah in less than two months.
“Meanwhile, our Human Rights Office has found that entrenched impunity is fuelling gross human rights violations and abuses in Sudan as fighting spreads to more parts of the country and involves additional groups,” Dujarric said. “The report called for a broader international effort towards accountability to stem the flow of arms. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said that the continued and deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian objects, as well as summary executions, sexual violence, and other violations and abuses, underscore the utter failure by both parties to respect the rules and principles of international humanitarian and international human rights law.”