UN Representative Salami expresses her concern about the escalation of violence in Darfur
Sudan Events – Talal Mudathir
The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan, UNITAMS Officer and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Clementine Nkweta Salami, expressed her deep concern about the military escalation in Darfur and its impact on civilians.
Salami added in a statement issued on Thursday, “I am concerned about reports that civilians are caught up in the ongoing fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in Darfur, in the context of escalating tribal tensions, which is reminiscent of the events that took place in El Geneina in Darfur in “Last June.”
The UN official’s statements come after the resumption of clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces since last Thursday in Nyala (South Darfur), Zalingei (Central Darfur), El Fasher (North Darfur), and El Geneina (West Darfur), where civilians were severely affected, with thousands displaced. People, many were killed or wounded, and civilian property was destroyed.
Salami reiterated her call on all parties to the conflict in Sudan to fulfill their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law to protect civilians during hostilities, stressing the necessity that “civilians must be allowed to leave areas affected by the conflict safely and without hindrance.”
The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Coordinator for Development and Humanitarian Affairs added: “At a time when much hope is pinned on the Jeddah talks to achieve a sustainable ceasefire and facilitate humanitarian access, I call on all parties to refrain from escalating and expanding the conflict. The toll this is taking “The conflict with civilians is unimaginable. The fighting must stop, and the parties to the conflict must ensure the safe passage of humanitarian aid to the millions of people in Sudan who desperately need it.”
It is worth noting that since the outbreak of fighting in Sudan in April 2023, thousands have been killed, more than 5.7 million people have been forced to leave their homes, and 25 million, or more than half of the population, are in need of humanitarian aid.
