Civilian killings in Sudan conflict jump this year, UN report says
At least 990 civilians were killed during summary executions in the first half, the report revealed that the number between February and April tripled.
Sudan experienced a significant increase in civilian murders in the first half of this year due to growing ethnic violence, the United Nations Human Rights Office announced on Friday.
The conflict in Sudan, which broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the rival paramilitary force, the rapid support forces (RSF), experienced horrible levels of civilian civilians and created the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
At least 3,384 civilians were killed between January and June, mainly in Darfur, according to a new report from the Office of the High Human Rights Commissioner.
The figure is equivalent to almost 80% of civilian victims in Sudan documented last year.
“Each day, we receive more horror reports on the ground,” said Li Fung, the Sudan representative of the Ohchch, to journalists in Geneva.
General of Sudan, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, welcomed the national anthem after landing at Port Sudan military airport on Sunday, during his first trip far from Khartoum since the internal conflict broke out. (Credit: Ibrahim Mohammed Ishak / Reuters)
Why are civilians killed in Sudan?
The majority of murders result from artillery bombings as well as air strikes and drones in densely populated areas, the OHCHR said. He noted that many deaths took place during the RSF offensive on the city of El Fasher, as well as the Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps for people in April.
At least 990 civilians were killed during summary executions in the first half, the report revealed that the number between February and April tripled.
This was mainly motivated by a wave of Khartoum after the SAF fighters and the Allies at the end of March took over the city previously controlled by the RSF, said the OHCHR.
“A witness who observed SAF research operations in civil districts in eastern Nile, Khartoum, between March and April, said that he had seen children as young as 14 or 15 years old, accused of being RSF members, summarily killed,” said Ohchr spokesperson Jeremy Laurence.
