The head of the International Red Cross has issued a grave warning. She states that history is tragically repeating itself in Sudan’s Darfur region. This concern follows reports of mass killings during the capture of the city of Al-Fashir by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary last week.
The fall of Al-Fashir, which was the Sudanese army’s final stronghold in Darfur, marks a significant moment in Sudan’s civil war. This victory grants the RSF de facto control over more than a quarter of the nation’s territory.
Mass Casualties and Civilians Trapped
The situation in Sudan is “horrific,” according to Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
- Casualty Reports: The UN human rights office reported on Friday that hundreds of unarmed fighters and civilians may have been killed during the city’s takeover. Witnesses described RSF fighters separating men from women and children before subsequent gunfire was heard. The RSF denies harming non-combatants.
- Echoes of the Past: Spoljaric stated, “It’s history repeating, and it becomes worse every time a place is taken over by the other party.” The RSF has its roots in the “Janjaweed” militias, which were mobilized by the government during the ethnically driven violence in Darfur in the 2000s.
- Trapped Populations: Tens of thousands of people fled Al-Fashir after the RSF seized the city. However, tens of thousands more are likely trapped inside. They lack essential access to food, water, or medical assistance.
Concerns Over Hospital Massacre
The ICRC expressed that it was “extremely concerned” about reported events at the Saudi Hospital. This hospital was the last-known functioning medical facility in Al-Fashir. Though the Red Cross could not immediately confirm the reports of a suspected massacre there, the situation remains dire.
ICRC staff stationed in the nearby town of Tawila reported that fleeing people were “sometimes collapsing and even dying out of exhaustion or because of their wounds.” Spoljaric called the current crisis “absolutely beyond what we can consider acceptable.”
Global Responsibility and Proliferating Conflicts
Spoljaric emphasized that states with influence over the warring parties have a responsibility to act. She said these states “are under responsibility to do the necessary to restrain them and to make sure that they protect civilian populations.”
More than 70,000 people have fled Al-Fashir since late October. However, the fate of nearly 200,000 others believed to have remained in the city during the 18-month siege remains unknown.
Spoljaric noted that the world is experiencing a “decade of war.” Armed conflicts have doubled over the past 15 years, reaching approximately 130 globally. She urged all parties involved in conflicts to uphold the fundamental rules of war.
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