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UN Condemns Atrocities Against Civilians in Sudan’s Gezira State

The UN condemned mass killings in Sudan’s Gezira state by the RSF, which left over 120 civilians dead and highlights the dire humanitarian crisis of more than 11 million displaced due to a civil war. Advocacy groups are urging for global intervention to facilitate humanitarian aid and end human rights abuses.

The United Nations has condemned the recent violent assault on civilians in Sudan’s Gezira state, where the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group reportedly killed over 120 individuals during a five-day rampage. This atrocity highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis stemming from Sudan’s civil war, which has displaced more than 11 million people since its inception. During the assaults, RSF fighters indiscriminately fired upon residents, committed acts of sexual violence, looted properties, and destroyed agricultural lands. Particularly egregious violence was reported in the town of Al-Sireha, where many lives were lost and numerous individuals were injured. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has called for urgent action, stating that such attacks against civilians are violations of international humanitarian law. Advocacy groups are urging the international community to exert pressure for the establishment of safe passages for humanitarian aid to reach affected populations. The RSF has gained notoriety for its violent tactics, linked to earlier atrocities committed during conflicts in Darfur. Reports indicate that sexual violence is being used strategically within the conflict, further deepening the humanitarian emergency as global attention wanes.

The civil war in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023, has its roots in tensions between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The conflict exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation, with fighting quickly spreading beyond the capital, Khartoum, into various regions including the historically volatile Darfur area. The RSF, a successor to the Janjaweed militias implicated in past genocides, has since adopted brutal tactics reminiscent of those former atrocities. With millions displaced and humanitarian needs at an all-time high, the response from the international community is critical yet currently lacking. Recent developments underscore the precarious nature of civilian safety in Sudan amidst this turmoil.

The events in Gezira stand as a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, marked by grave human rights violations and extreme levels of violence against civilians, particularly women and girls. The international community’s inaction amidst such atrocities calls for a renewed commitment to protect vulnerable populations and hold perpetrators accountable. Enhanced global pressure is essential to ensure safe access for humanitarian assistance, which remains critically needed in light of the devastation wrought by the civil war. Failure to act risks further escalation of violence and suffering in one of the world’s most urgent crises.

Original Source: www.abc.net.au

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