UN Rights Envoy Warns of Human Rights Catastrophe in Sudan's El-Obeid

On Friday, the United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk urged immediate global action to address the severe human rights crisis unfolding in el-Obeid, a major city in Sudan. Over the past 18 months, civilians in the region have faced dire conditions, including a lack of clean water and ongoing drone strikes.

Escalating Humanitarian Crisis in El-Obeid

According to Türk, the situation in el-Obeid has deteriorated drastically, with civilians suffering from what he describes as siege-like conditions. He reported a troubling pattern of executions, abductions, torture, and sexual violence affecting displaced individuals in the Kordofan region.

“The signs from el-Obeid are clear and unmistakable: Another human rights catastrophe is unfolding in Sudan,” Türk stated during a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

500,000 Civilians at Risk of Atrocities

Eleanor Sanders, the British Human Rights Ambassador, highlighted the urgent need for action, warning that up to 500,000 civilians could face atrocities if the situation continues unchecked. She emphasized the necessity for an urgent debate on the crisis, a call supported by Germany, Ireland, Norway, and the Netherlands.

The ongoing conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been raging for over three years, exacerbating the humanitarian disaster in the region. The UN reported that at least 45 civilians were killed and 41 injured in 15 drone strikes in el-Obeid and surrounding areas between June 6 and June 28.

War Crimes and International Response

Human rights organizations have accused both sides of the conflict of committing war crimes, with the RSF facing allegations of ethnic violence, particularly in Darfur. In a recent crisis, approximately 6,000 people were killed in just three days as the RSF captured the city of al-Fashir in October.

Sudan's foreign minister, Mohieldin Salim Ahmed Ibrahim, has called on the international community to halt the supply of weapons and military equipment to the RSF, urging a unified response to prevent further escalation of violence.