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Strong UN Warning of Potential Atrocity Crimes in El Obeid

Moatinoon
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday issued a stark warning about the risk of atrocity crimes in and around the strategic Sudanese city of El Obeid, urging world leaders to intensify efforts to halt the bloodshed in Sudans ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, High Commissioner Volker Türk said the warning signs emerging from El Obeid were "clear and unmistakable: another human rights catastrophe is unfolding in Sudan."

His remarks came as the Human Rights Council, the UNs highest human rights body, convened an urgent debate on the situation in El Obeid following growing concerns expressed by diplomats, human rights organizations, and other stakeholders over the possibility of another wave of atrocities against civilians as Sudans conflict enters its fourth year.

"This is not a drill—it is an alarm bell that should be ringing in the offices of heads of state and government around the world," Türk said. "Their phones should be ringing in the coming days and weeks with ideas on how to prevent atrocity crimes in El Obeid and elsewhere in Kordofan."

Meanwhile, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) expressed deep concern over an incident on Wednesday in which a drone reportedly struck a truck contracted by the agency near Tendelti in White Nile State.

UNHCR said the truck driver escaped unharmed, but the attack destroyed 50 metric tons of humanitarian relief supplies that were being transported to Abu Jubaiha in South Kordofan State.

The shipment included 1,000 packages of non-food relief items, plastic sheeting, water, sleeping and cooking kits, and solar-powered lamps intended to support some of the communities hardest hit by the conflict.

The agency warned that, as a result of the attack, thousands of people who depend on the aid would be deprived of urgently needed humanitarian assistance.

At the UNs daily press briefing, spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the organization remained deeply concerned by escalating violence across Sudan and the worsening humanitarian crisis.

In White Nile State, humanitarian partners reported that the city of Kosti came under multiple drone attacks on 1 July, injuring at least three civilians.

Despite these challenges, Dujarric stressed that the United Nations continues to deliver assistance whenever access is possible. In South Kordofan State, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that a convoy carrying 8.5 metric tons of medical supplies, including cholera response materials, had joined an inter-agency convoy heading to Dilling and Kadugli.

The supplies are expected to help address growing health needs in the state while strengthening preparedness and response efforts against cholera and other disease outbreaks.

The United Nations renewed its call for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and urged international donors to increase funding to meet Sudans rapidly growing humanitarian needs.