There are reports reaching the UN human rights office (OHCHR) of summary executions of civilians trying to escape the violence in El Fasher, some of it ethnically motivated.
The reports say the killings are mostly committed by the Rapid Support Forces, targeting former combatants who have put down their weapons.
Graphic reports said RSF had summarily executed five men who were attempting to bring food supplies into the Darfuri regional capital, which has been blockaded by the militia for 18 months.
They were accused of supporting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
“The risk of further large-scale, ethnically motivated violations and atrocities in El Fasher is mounting by the day,” warned UN human rights chief Volker Türk, who said urgent and concrete action is needed to ensure the protection of civilians in El Fasher and safe passage for those trying to leave.
The alarming reports come as the humanitarian situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate since the outbreak of the conflict.
Over 12 million people have been displaced or rendered stateless and over 24 million hungry, since the Sudanese conflict began in April 2023, reparded as one of the world’s most severe crisis.
El Fasher which was controlled by the Sudanese regular army backing the mlitary junta led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has been under siege by the RSF for over a year but look set to fall in the hands of the militia following an escalation in the fighting.
A journalist was among hundreds reportedly detained as they attempted to flee days of heavy artillery shelling which caused the death of an unspecified number of civilians last week.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has told journalists that the “terrible escalation” necessitates the international community to exert pressure on countries taking sides in Sudan’s internal conflict by “providing weapons” to one of the warring sides, urging them to agree a ceasefire.
Malnourished and traumatised
Meanwhile, Denise Brown, UN humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, at a press briefing on Monday said civilians including adults and children fleeing El Fasher often appear “dehydrated, malnourished, some injured and all traumatised.”
Humanitarian workers endangered
Relief workers have not been spared. According to the UN some 130 aid workers have been killed since the conflict erupted more than two years ago, with reports of volunteers being killed in El Fasher, Ms. Brown said.
“These people are the backbone of the humanitarian response in the most difficult areas and they are also protected under international humanitarian law,” she added.
Mr. Türk enjoined RSF commanders to an obligation under international law to protect civilians and ensure the safe passage of humanitarian assistance.
WN/as/APA