WFP/World Relief Organization. The United Nations and partners are providing emergency food and nutrition assistance to the Sudanese state of Western Darfur.
As Sudan's deadly conflict enters its second year, Sudan's warring parties must commit to an immediate ceasefire, end attacks on civilians and ensure unhindered humanitarian access for millions of people in desperate need, the international fact-finding mission on Sudan established by the UN Human Rights Council said today.
Thousands of people have been killed in the country since the outbreak of clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 15 April last year, while more than 6 million have been internally displaced and nearly 2 million have fled to neighbouring countries for asylum. According to the United Nations, nearly 24 million people across Sudan are in need of assistance, and 18 million face crisis-level food insecurity.
Failure to implement Security Council resolutions
The fact-finding mission noted that the Security Council had adopted a resolution in March this year "calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities during the holy month of Ramadan and for the parties to the conflict to seek a sustainable solution to the conflict through dialogue";
To that end, the members of the mission called for an immediate ceasefire in the Sudan and urged the parties to commit themselves to a comprehensive peace process. At the same time, the mission's three experts urged United Nations Member States to exert their influence on the warring parties in order to bring the fighting to a halt and to restore peace, justice and democracy in the Sudan immediately.
Stop the violence and protect civilians
The Chairman of the mission, Mohamed Chande Othman, further noted that all warring parties must immediately cease all violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, and hold perpetrators of serious human rights violations accountable.
Osman stressed that the warring parties in Sudan have a legal obligation to protect civilians, but that the parties do not respect this sufficiently. "Reports of repeated attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, are alarming and we are investigating," he said. ”
Rescue convoys and personnel were attacked
There have also been reports of attacks on aid convoys and infrastructure, which should be described as "clear violations of international humanitarian law", the mission said. Mona Rishmawi, a member of the mission, noted that aid agencies are continuing to do their job despite attacks and looting of humanitarian convoys, personnel and warehouses.
"We are also investigating incidents of deliberate obstruction of humanitarian access to civilians living in areas under the control of the other side," she added. All parties to the conflict must ensure and facilitate safe, free and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance for civilians in urgent need. ”
Famine risk
Citing an analysis by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the mission said there was a serious risk of famine in Sudan, particularly in parts of the Darfur region, while the country's cereal harvest had fallen by almost half compared to last year, and cereal prices had doubled or tripled in war-affected areas.
Joy Ezeilo, a member of the mission, warned: "If the rural population does not safely stay on their land to grow crops or take care of livestock, we will witness a catastrophe." ”
Donor funding is woefully underfunded
The Mission notes that only 6 per cent of the $2.7 billion needed to respond to the crisis in the Sudan has been secured so far at an international humanitarian conference for the Sudan and its neighbouring countries to be held in Paris on 15 April. The Mission hopes that, by the time of this meeting, the serious decline in donor funding will be resolved soon.
The members of the mission also reaffirmed the need to ensure accountability and underlined their commitment to fulfilling their mandate to establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of all conflict-related violations.
Fact-finding mission
On 11 October last year, the Human Rights Council, by a vote of 19 in favour, 16 against and 12 abstentions, adopted a resolution deciding to urgently establish an independent international fact-finding mission on the Sudan with the mandate to "investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, including against refugees, and related crimes committed in the ongoing armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and other belligerents that began on 15 April 2023, and to establish the facts, Situation and Causes".
The mission, which was initially mandated for an initial period of one year, became operational in Geneva in January this year. The mission was also asked to collect, synthesize and analyse relevant evidence for possible future legal proceedings, identify the individuals and entities responsible, where possible, and make recommendations to ensure accountability and justice for victims.
