UN Human Rights Chief Condemns Deadly Airstrikes in Sudan
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed deep shock over reports that airstrikes on March 24 devastated a busy market in Tora Village, killing hundreds of civilians and injuring many more.
Ongoing Conflict Between Rival Forces
Sudan has been engulfed in conflict for nearly two years as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) battle the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). On Wednesday, reports surfaced that the SAF had regained control of the capital, Khartoum, which had been largely held by the RSF since clashes erupted in April 2023. The army reportedly captured the presidential palace last Friday and now controls all bridges across the River Nile, which connect different parts of the capital.
Civilians Caught in the Crossfire
According to Türk, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) verified that 13 members of a single family were among those killed in Monday’s airstrikes. Limited medical access means that some injured individuals are also succumbing to their wounds.
Additionally, OHCHR received reports that RSF forces arbitrarily arrested and detained civilians following the attack. Both warring factions have been accused of indiscriminately targeting civilian areas.
Despite repeated warnings from the UN urging both sides to protect civilians under international humanitarian law, civilian casualties continue to rise. Türk strongly condemned the ongoing attacks and reminded all parties that indiscriminate killings and assaults on civilian infrastructure may constitute war crimes.
“There must be full accountability for these violations,” Türk stated. “Such conduct must never become normalized.”
UNICEF: Children Bear the Brunt of the War
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urgently called for the protection of children caught in the violence, reporting a surge in grave violations against minors.
Since January, North Darfur alone has seen 110 documented violations against children. More than 70 children have been killed or maimed in El Fasher, the state capital, as relentless airstrikes and shelling continue. The Zamzam camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) has also suffered extensive attacks, accounting for 16% of child casualties in the region.
A Humanitarian Disaster
Sheldon Yett, UNICEF’s Representative for Sudan, warned that 825,000 children are trapped in an escalating catastrophe in and around El Fasher.
“With only verified cases recorded, the real death toll is likely much higher. Children are in a daily struggle to survive,” Yett emphasized.
Over 60,000 people have been displaced in North Darfur alone in the last six weeks. This adds to an already staggering number of 600,000 displaced individuals since April 2024, half of whom are children.
Rising Hunger and Famine Risk
Multiple humanitarian challenges are worsening, with all access routes blocked and armed groups attacking rural villages. Rising insecurity has made delivering aid and goods nearly impossible, leading to extreme shortages and food prices doubling in just three months.
Malnutrition is also rampant, with 457,000 children in North Darfur suffering from acute malnutrition, including 146,000 experiencing severe acute malnutrition (SAM), the deadliest form. Six localities within the region are now at risk of famine.
UNICEF has urged all parties to allow safe and unrestricted humanitarian access to ensure life-saving aid reaches those in Al Fasher, Zamzam, and other affected communities.
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