Agencies – Darfur 24
July 24(Darfur24)The independent international fact-finding mission on Sudan said that it documented disturbing patterns of gross human rights violations during its visit to Chad, a country neighboring Sudan, and called on the international community to redouble urgent efforts to end the war.
The United Nations fact-finding mission visited Chad from June 30 to July 18 and met with victims and survivors of the conflict in Sudan, in addition to members of Sudanese civil society, the diplomatic corps, and the United Nations country team.
The mission interviewed many refugees who “provided detailed and first-hand descriptions of horrific acts of violence” such as murder, sexual violence including gang rape, arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearance, looting, burning of homes and the use of children to fight.
“Many of the violations appear to specifically target professionals such as lawyers, human rights defenders, teachers and doctors, and forced displacement was a common feature,” the mission said in a press release.
Widows’ courage
Expert and mission member Joy Ngozi Esiello said: “I pay tribute to the courage of many of the widows we met in the camps. No one deserves to live through harsh, life-changing experiences like these, in addition to losing their husbands and partners. These women alone bear the responsibility of feeding, educating and caring for their children while losing their homes.” “And their livelihoods, they need support at all levels.”
The fact-finding mission also heard opinions on the steps that can and should be taken to break the cycle of continuing violence and ensure that those involved in atrocities are held accountable, in addition to achieving justice and support for the victims.
Sexual violence
Expert and mission member Mona Rishmawi said: “It was unfortunate to hear the testimonies of victims of sexual violence. It seems that this violence occurs during captivity and during the displacement of women and girls. Sometimes this is done to punish a woman who actively defends her community, and sometimes it happens randomly and opportunistically. These actions must stop.” brutality, and the perpetrators must be brought to justice. “The victims also need strong physical and psychological support, which is not available to them now.”
The mission said that it acknowledges the tremendous efforts made by the Chadian authorities, United Nations organizations and other humanitarian first responders, but it stresses that the existing needs exceed the available support.
A call to the international community
Mohamed Chandi Othman, head of the fact-finding mission, said: “This crisis needs the support of the entire international community. United Nations organizations and other humanitarian non-governmental organizations are in urgent need of more financial and other forms of support to ensure that returning Sudanese refugees and Chadian refugees can access the facilities.” “Basic needs, including nutrition, health care, health and educational needs.”
The mission called on the international community to increase humanitarian support for Chadian communities hosting refugees, and noted the enormous pressure on them. She said that the Chadian border town of Adre alone hosts 200,000 Sudanese refugees, a number that is more than five times the original population.
The fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces – which broke out in April 2023 – has killed thousands of people and displaced millions, and more than 26 million people in Sudan suffer from food insecurity.
The United Nations Human Rights Council had a resolution in October 2023 to establish a fact-finding mission whose staff would be stationed at the United Nations headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, to investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, including those committed against refugees, and crimes Relevant in the context of the ongoing armed conflict, between the Sudanese army, the Rapid Support Forces and other parties to the conflict, and proving the facts, circumstances and root causes.