In a continued wave of human rights violations amid ongoing clashes between rival factions, an airstrike on Saturday targeted the Sudanese city of Omdurman, claiming the lives of at least 22 individuals. This devastating attack represents one of the deadliest airstrikes since the conflict began.
The strike hit a residential area in the city, as confirmed by a concise statement from Sudan’s Ministry of Health, resulting in an unspecified number of casualties.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the massacre in Omdurman, with Fahad Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for Guterres, expressing the Secretary-General’s deep concern over reports of widespread violence and casualties in Sudan’s Darfur region.
Haq added, “He [Guterres] is also worried about the resumption of fighting in the states of North Kordofan, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile. There is a grave and alarming disregard for international humanitarian law and human rights.”
Guterres reiterated his call for the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces to immediately cease hostilities and commit to a permanent cessation of fighting.
Sudanese officials reported last month that the clashes had claimed the lives of over 3,000 people, with more than 6,000 others injured.
According to United Nations statistics, over 2.9 million people have been displaced from their homes, seeking refuge in safer areas within Sudan or crossing borders into neighbouring countries.
The killing and targeting of civilians and hospitals constitute severe violations of international humanitarian law, which explicitly mandates the protection of civilians and medical facilities during conflicts, and strongly prohibits their deliberate targeting.
These grave violations are indicative of a flagrant disregard for international legal and ethical standards, necessitating urgent and effective intervention from the international community to halt these atrocities and ensure those responsible are held accountable.
Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR UK) recently called on the warring parties in Sudan to immediately halt the ongoing battles and seek a peaceful resolution through inclusive national dialogue.
AOHR UK also appealed to the United Nations Security Council to take immediate action and call for an immediate ceasefire to save the lives of innocent people in grave danger.
