The United Nations has strongly condemned a horrific attack on a market in the Khartoum suburb of Omdurman on February 1st, which resulted in the deaths of at least 60 people and left over 150 injured.
In a statement, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, described the attack, believed to have been carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in an area controlled by the Sudanese army, as “horrific” and “indiscriminate.”
The UN also expressed deep concern over reports of civilian killings in other parts of Sudan, including North Kordofan and Darfur. These acts of violence constitute grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
Ms. Nkweta-Salami stressed the urgent need for accountability for those responsible for these heinous crimes and reiterated the call for an immediate end to all attacks deliberately targeting civilian areas. “The suffering of Sudanese civilians has gone on for too long,” she said, emphasizing the urgent need to end the conflict and prevent further devastation.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has had a devastating impact on the country, claiming tens of thousands of lives and forcing millions to flee their homes. An estimated 20 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed hope that 2025 will mark an end to this bloody conflict. “I visited Sudan in September, where I witnessed the devastating effects of the civil war and met people who are paying a heavy price,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The following week, I visited the border town of Adre in Chad, where I met some of the 900,000 Sudanese refugees who have fled in search of safety and food.”
The international community continues to urge all parties to the conflict to engage in meaningful dialogue and prioritize the protection of civilians.
ODL/Sf/ac/fss/abj.APA