UN condemns civilian killings in Sudan’s Kordofan region
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has deplored the killing of dozens of civilians by both parties to the conflict in Sudan’s Kordofan region over the past week. The UN Human Rights Office has verified the deaths of at least 60 civilians at the hands of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in North […]
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has deplored the killing of dozens of civilians by both parties to the conflict in Sudan’s Kordofan region over the past week.
The UN Human Rights Office has verified the deaths of at least 60 civilians at the hands of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in North Kordofan’s Bara locality since 10 July.
Civil society groups estimate the toll may be as high as 300. Meanwhile, airstrikes by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) between 10 and 14 July reportedly killed at least 23 civilians and injured more than 30 in two villages in West Kordofan.
On 17 July, 11 members of a single family were killed in another SAF airstrike in Bara.
“It is distressing that more than two years since the conflict began, parties to the conflict in Sudan continue to demonstrate callous disregard for civilians’ lives and safety,” Türk said.
The High Commissioner expressed alarm over reports that the RSF is mobilizing for an offensive on El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, and voiced continued concern for civilians in El Fasher, North Darfur, following RSF ground attacks on 11 and 12 July.
“An escalation of hostilities in North Darfur and Kordofan will only further aggravate the already severe risks to civilians and the dire humanitarian situation in a conflict that has already wrought untold suffering on the Sudanese people,” Türk warned.
“I urge those with influence to act to prevent such an escalation, and to ensure that both parties uphold their obligations under international law, including on the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
He also reiterated calls for safe, sustained, and unimpeded humanitarian access, including through humanitarian pauses.
“All alleged violations must be fully and independently investigated and those responsible brought to justice,” he said.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also reported that the death toll from a wave of violent attacks in Sudan’s North Kordofan region has climbed to at least 450 victims.
According to the Sudan Tribune, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell revealed that among the casualties were 24 boys and 11 girls, all killed in a brutal assault on Bara village — located approximately 40 kilometers from the city of El-Obeid in North Kordofan.
Russell warned that the true toll could be even higher, as many victims remain unaccounted for and dozens of children have sustained injuries. “Children should never be targeted,” she stated, condemning the violence.
The attacks, which began in June, are attributed to RSF fighters who have reportedly raided multiple villages, leaving behind widespread destruction and looted homes.