Geneva, October 3 (Darfur24)
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Thursday called for urgent action to prevent large-scale, ethnically driven attacks and atrocities in El Fasher, as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensify their campaign to seize the long-besieged capital of North Darfur State.
“After over 500 days of unremitting siege by the RSF and incessant fighting, El Fasher is on the precipice of an even greater catastrophe if urgent measures are not taken to loosen the armed vice upon the city and to protect civilians,” Türk warned in a statement.
Reports of the RSF pre-positioning long-range drones in South Darfur have heightened fears of further escalation. Between 19 and 29 September, at least 91 civilians were killed in RSF artillery shelling, drone strikes, and ground incursions, amid what appears to be an effort to forcibly displace residents, including those in Abu Shouk IDP camp.
The Daraja Oula neighbourhood, which shelters many displaced families, has been repeatedly attacked. Two drone strikes hit a market there in the past week, and a drone attack on a mosque on 19 September killed at least 67 civilians. On 30 September, credible reports indicated that 23 civilians died when a community kitchen in Abu Shouk was shelled.
Türk stressed the need to protect civilians who remain trapped in the city, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and those with chronic illnesses.
“Safe and voluntary passage of civilians must be ensured out of El Fasher, and throughout their movement along key exit routes and at checkpoints controlled by different armed actors,” he said.
He cited persistent reports of serious abuses against people fleeing the city, including summary executions, torture, abductions, and looting. Türk also warned of a repeat of ethnically motivated violations, similar to those committed during the RSF offensive on Zamzam IDP camp in mid-April, which included systematic sexual violence against Zaghawa women and girls.
The High Commissioner urged all parties to allow immediate and unhindered humanitarian access to El Fasher, where civilians are facing severe shortages of food, water, and health care.
“As essential supplies are dwindling daily and prices are skyrocketing, the recent attack on one of the few remaining community kitchens will further diminish what remains of the right to food,” Türk said.
“The cruelty of the situation is compounded by continued arbitrary RSF restrictions on bringing food and essential supplies into the city, and credible reports of civilians tortured and killed by RSF fighters for doing so.”
He reminded all parties that starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited under international humanitarian law, and called for the immediate lifting of the siege and unimpeded delivery of aid.
Türk also urged parties to the conflict and Member States with influence on the ground to act swiftly:
“Atrocities are not inevitable; they can be averted if all actors take concrete action to uphold international law, demand respect for civilian life and property, and prevent the continued commission of atrocity crimes,” he concluded.