UN human rights chief warns of Sudan famine crisis amid ongoing conflict News
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UN human rights chief warns of Sudan famine crisis amid ongoing conflict

The UN warned Thursday that Sudan is facing famine after “intense fighting caused the World Food Programme to suspend operations in North Darfur.”

“Five more areas could face famine in the next three months, and a further 17 are at risk,” warned the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, in a speech in Geneva. “An estimated 8.8 million people have been forced from their homes to camps and other locations within Sudan, and 3.5 million more have fled across borders.” 

Last week, a Sudan paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked the White Nile state villages Al-Kadaris and Al-Khalwat among others. These attacks left hundreds dead. These are the latest attacks in the ongoing conflict between the paramilitary forces and the government, which began in 2023. Relatedly, Human Rights Watch also reported on Wednesday attacks targeting civilians in January. 

In the context of non-international armed conflicts, military operations targeting civilians violate the principle of distinction under Common Article 3 of the four Geneva Conventions. As the International Court of Justice described in its advisory opinion on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, the protection of the civilian population and the distinction between combatants and non-combatants are “cardinal principles” contained in humanitarian law.

Serious violations of Common Article 3 amount to war crimes under the Rome Statute. Even though Sudan is not a state party to the statute, the UN Security Council mandated the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to investigate the alleged war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur that had taken place since July 2002.

Targeted attacks have been motivated by ethnic or tribal divisions and have been indiscriminate towards women and children. Sexual violence has accompanied such attacks, including gang rape. The UN estimates that the data on sexual violence is incomplete because of the stigma and fear that victims of sexual violence face. The relentless violence has left medical clinics operating at 30 percent capacity and the country’s judicial systems have collapsed. Turk further warned that the persistent conflict threatens the regional stability in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, if not the whole global community.

“All countries must use their influence to apply diplomatic and political pressure on the parties, and their regional and international allies, towards a ceasefire, the effective protection of civilians, and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid,” urged Turk. 

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