Sudan on the Brink: A Desperate Population Trapped in a Cycle of Conflict, Hunger, and Devastation
UN experts confirmed that the conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Aid Forces has been characterized by a “comprehensive disregard for international humanitarian law and human rights law” and has led to a catastrophic humanitarian situation for the civilian population in a statement on jointly published today , Tuesday, the independent experts * condemn the sudden increase in violence against civilians in Sudan 11 million people, more than half of whom are children, are internally displaced .
They said: “The indiscriminate use of munitions, airstrikes and explosive weapons by all parties results in immediate casualties and exposes civilians to the long-term risk of unexploded siege tactics such as those used against a city El Fasher, and the severe restrictions imposed by both sides on humanitarian aid, have also led to “The occupation or destruction of agricultural land, and attacks against humanitarian workers exacerbate a man-made famine.”
Race-based crime
The experts strongly condemned the recent attacks by the Rapid Aid Forces in Al Jazeera Province, noting the “disturbing reports” they received of civilians being subjected to forced displacement, torture, ill-treatment, summary execution and arbitrary detention on the basis of their. ethnicity. “This adds to a growing pattern of atrocities against ethnic minorities that could amount to crimes against humanity,” they said.
The experts said they remain deeply disturbed by “the systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, recently in Gezira province and more widely during the conflict, particularly by the Rapid Aid Forces The campaign This widespread practice, which mainly targets women and girls, has been shown to include sexual violence, sexual slavery, forced marriage and human trafficking under conditions of extreme violence that amount to torture.”
An impossible situation
Experts noted that the absence of the rule of law has exposed civilians to general insecurity and violence, including armed robbery, looting, extortion, sexual and gender-based violence committed by criminals, as well as violent clashes between farmers and herdsmen.
They also expressed concern about the possibility that civilians recently displaced by severe monsoon flooding would be exposed to an outbreak of cholera. They added: “The people of Sudan are facing an impossible situation. They are trapped between conflict, hunger, crime, disasters and disease.”
The independent experts called on the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Assistance Forces to “end their attack on civilians, ensure unrestricted access to humanitarian aid, prevent and ensure accountability for conflict-related sexual violence, provide protection, assistance and treatment for victims, work. towards a ceasefire, comprehensive political negotiations, and the restoration of peace.”
They said the international community must support these efforts through mediation, diplomacy, funding the humanitarian response, and “ending illegal arms transfers to the parties.”
The experts are:
Paula Gaviria Bettencourt, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons;
Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food;
Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences;
Maurice Tidball Baines, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions;
Alice Jill Edwards, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
Nicolas Levrat, Special Rapporteur on minority issues;
Siobhan Mullally, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in people, especially women and children;
Reem Al-Salem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences;
Laura Nirenkende (Chair), Claudia Flores (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada Tank, Ivana Krstić and Haina Lu, Task Force on Discrimination against Women and Girls.
*It is worth noting that special rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Human Rights Council in Geneva, which is an intergovernmental body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights worldwide. Rapporteurs and experts are tasked with studying human rights situations and presenting reports on them to the Human Rights Council. It should be noted that this position is honorary, and these experts are not considered UN employees and do not receive compensation for their work.