Doha: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk warned today that Sudan faces an imminent risk of another wave of atrocities amid escalating violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces across the Kordofan region in the west of the country. Since 25 October, when RSF captured Bara city in North Kordofan, the UN Human Rights Office has documented at least 269 civilian deaths from aerial strikes, artillery shelling, and summary executions, Turk said in a press release.

According to Qatar News Agency, he explained that telecommunications and internet outages hinder accurate reporting, therefore, the number of civilian casualties is likely to be much higher. There have also been reports of retaliatory killings, arbitrary detention, abductions, sexual violence, and forced recruitment, including of children.

“Truly shocking to see history repeating itself in Sudan’s Kordofan region so soon after the horrific events in El Fasher,” he posted on X, noting that the international community stood united then and unequivocally condemned the barbaric violations and destruction. We must not allow Kordofan to become another Al Fasher, he said.

The UN High Commissioner also called for the protection of humanitarian workers and local responders, the restoration of communications to facilitate the delivery of life-saving aid, and the flow of essential information to civilians. He stressed that providing safe passage for those fleeing the horrors of famine, death, and destruction is both essential and a fundamental human rights imperative.

On April 15, 2023, fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians and the displacement of millions from their homes due to the violence.