GENEVA: The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has warned that a severe human rights crisis is rapidly unfolding in the Sudanese city of Al-Obeid, calling on the international community to take immediate action to prevent further civilian suffering.
Addressing an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, Türk said the situation in Al-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State, bears all the hallmarks of another major humanitarian catastrophe.
“The warning signs from Al-Obeid are clear and unmistakable,” Türk told delegates, stressing that civilians are facing increasingly dire conditions as fighting intensifies around the strategically important city.
The emergency debate was convened at the request of the United Kingdom after growing concerns that Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), along with allied groups, have been reinforcing positions around Al-Obeid.
Diplomats have warned that the military build-up could trigger large-scale atrocities and further escalate the country’s devastating conflict.
According to the UN human rights chief, residents of Al-Obeid have endured siege-like conditions for the past 18 months. Essential services have deteriorated significantly, while shortages of clean drinking water have reached critical levels.
The humanitarian situation has been compounded by relentless drone attacks as clashes continue between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF for control of the surrounding areas.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights documented at least 15 drone strikes in and around Al-Obeid between June 6 and 28. The attacks reportedly killed at least 45 civilians and injured a further 41, highlighting the growing toll on non-combatants.
Türk urged all parties to the conflict to uphold international humanitarian law, protect civilians and ensure unrestricted humanitarian access. He also called on the international community to intensify efforts to prevent further violence and address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, displacing millions of people and creating one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies.
