Khartoum: The United Nations human rights office revealed on Friday that over 480 civilians have been killed in North Darfur over the past two weeks, warning that the true death toll could be much higher. According to the UN, some of these deadly attacks were ethnically motivated.
The agency also highlighted widespread sexual violence across the region, including assaults on young children, describing the situation as “horrifying.”
“The scale of suffering endured by the Sudanese people is unimaginable and intolerable,” said UN human rights chief Volker Türk.
North Darfur has become a major flashpoint in the devastating conflict that broke out in April 2023 between Sudan’s armed forces, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
The war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and triggered what the UN has called the world's most severe humanitarian crisis.
One particularly deadly attack occurred at the Zamzam displacement camp between April 11 and 13, where at least 210 civilians — including nine healthcare workers — were killed. Türk cited accounts of women, girls, and boys being raped, often as they fled the violence.
From Sunday to Thursday this past week, at least 129 additional civilians were killed across El-Fasher city, Um Kedada district, and the Abu Shouk displacement camp.
The UN reported that some assaults appeared to target specific ethnic groups. It also said dozens of detainees held by the RSF died from a lack of food, water, and medical care, while others perished trying to flee through harsh environments.
Hundreds of thousands have been displaced in North Darfur, many for a second time, and are now enduring severe shortages of aid. Humanitarian access remains extremely restricted, the UN warned.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme announced it might be forced to reduce food assistance soon due to funding shortfalls. Current rations have already been cut to 70% of standard levels in famine-threatened areas.
Ongoing attacks against humanitarian workers, healthcare facilities, and even water supplies have left relief systems close to collapse, Türk added.
The UN’s alarming report comes shortly after UK Foreign Minister David Lammy stated that the violence in Darfur shows signs of ethnic cleansing and could amount to crimes against humanity. Lammy urged both warring parties to immediately de-escalate and pledged that the UK would seek to hold perpetrators accountable.
