The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan on Thursday said she was appalled by reports of violent attacks and a high number of casualties in the village of Wad Al-Noura in Al Gazira State on 5 June.
In a statement sent to Radio Tamazuj, Clementine Nkweta-Salami stated that while the UN does not yet have the full details and facts of Wednesday’s events, there are credible reports of heavy gunfire and the use of explosive weapons in populated civilian areas.
“The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have publicly confirmed that their elements were involved in ground operations in this area on 5 June. Even by the tragic standards of Sudan’s conflict, the images emerging from Wad Al-Noura are heartbreaking,” she said. “I have said it before and I will say it again: wars have rules that need to be respected, no matter what.”
Nkweta-Salami added: “Armed clashes and the use of explosive weapons in heavily populated areas must be avoided at all costs. Civilians can never be a target.”
The Resident Coordinator said International Humanitarian Law and commitments made in Jeddah must be upheld.
“I call for a thorough investigation into the circumstances and facts of what happened in Wad Al-Noura, and for those responsible of crimes to be held accountable,” she asserted. “Human tragedy has become a hallmark of life in Sudan. We cannot allow impunity to become another one.”
Separately, the UN Secretary-General strongly condemned the attack reportedly carried out on 5 June by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Wad Al-Noora village, which is said to have killed over 100 people.
Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, said in a statement that the Secretary-General urges all parties to refrain from any attacks that could harm civilians or damage civilian infrastructure.
“The Secretary-General expresses his deep concern regarding the immense suffering of the Sudanese population as a result of the continued hostilities. He stresses that it is high time for all parties to silence their guns across Sudan and commit to a path towards sustainable peace for the Sudanese people,” Dujarric said.
He added, “The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, is continuing his engagements to advance peace efforts in Sudan. The United Nations remains committed to supporting international mediation efforts and to working with all relevant stakeholders to help bring an end to the conflict.”
The RSF has been fighting the army for control of Sudan since April 2023 in a war that has killed thousands, displaced almost 8 million, and sparked warnings of famine.