The United Nations has issued a fresh appeal for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan as fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces intensifies, worsening an already catastrophic humanitarian situation.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk made the call on Monday while addressing the Human Rights Council in Geneva. He warned that civilians remain at imminent risk, particularly in the Kordofan region, Blue Nile state, and parts of Darfur, and urged all parties to halt attacks on markets, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure.
“There needs to be an immediate ceasefire, an end to foreign involvement, and a return to inclusive civilian rule,” Türk stated.
The conflict, now entering its fourth year, has forced more than six million people from their homes within Sudan and driven another 4.5 million to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. A recent report by the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission found that both sides are increasingly relying on long-range drones, extending the reach of the violence far beyond traditional battlefronts.
Investigators documented deadly strikes that killed 114 people, including 60 children, in South Kordofan, and another attack on a teaching hospital that left at least 70 dead. The mission said there are reasonable grounds to believe both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have committed serious violations that may amount to war crimes.
Türk’s appeal comes amid growing concern over the continued flow of weapons, drones and foreign fighters into the conflict, which continues to fuel the violence and deepen civilian suffering.
