Children are walking to a camp for internally displaced persons near El Fasher, the capital of Sudan's Northern Darfur state (file photo).
The escalating violence in Sudan has had a terrible impact on millions of civilians, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has personally intervened to try to stop the "ongoing threat of famine".
The UN Human Rights Office said that High Commissioner Türk held telephone conversations on Tuesday with Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the rival Rapid Support Forces.
Diplomatic channels
OHCHR spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said Türk urged both sides to take immediate and public action to de-escalate the situation. She noted that the High Commissioner had been in contact with the warring generals in November 2022.
Shamdasani said Türk warned the two commanders that the fighting in El Fasher, the capital of Northern Darfur province, would have a catastrophic impact on civilians and would deepen inter-communal clashes with catastrophic humanitarian consequences. More than 1.8 million residents and internally displaced persons are currently under siege and at risk of imminent famine.
Türk reminded commanders of their obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure strict observance of the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, to put an end to any ongoing violations, and to ensure that their respective forces and vassals are held accountable for violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
13 months of fierce fighting
Sudan's 13-month war has left half of the country's population in need of humanitarian assistance, with a staggering 25 million people, including 14 million children.
Millions of people have experienced multiple displacements, each time becoming more vulnerable, and aid teams have repeatedly warned of imminent famine as the rainy season approaches.
OHCHR expressed concern about the continuing and lasting impact of the conflict across Sudan, while highlighting the dire situation of civilians in and around El Fasher, who are caught in an escalation of violence.
At least 58 civilians have been reported killed and 213 injured since the sharp escalation of fighting in Northern Darfur last week, according to OHCHR.
Disease and famine are looming
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs shared concern about the humanitarian emergency in Sudan and warned that the disease was spreading and people were "facing the threat of famine".
UN partners' response plans need to mobilize $2.7 billion to provide assistance and support to the 15 million people most affected.
The funds will be used to provide more food, health care, shelter, water and sanitation, as well as to prevent sexual and gender-based violence, help victims and support out-of-school children to return to school.
He warned that without immediate access to funding, aid teams will not be able to scale up in time to avoid famine and prevent further poverty.
