United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk on Monday renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, warning that civilians remained at imminent risk as fighting between the army and paramilitary forces intensified in several regions.
The war between Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023, has triggered one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. More than 6 million people have been displaced within Sudan and about 4.5 million have fled to neighbouring countries, according to the United Nations.
Addressing the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk called for an end to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including markets, hospitals and fuel stations.
“There needs to be an immediate ceasefire, an end to foreign involvement, and a return to inclusive civilian rule,” Türk said.
He warns that the situation is deteriorating in Kordofan, Blue Nile and North and West Darfur, where civilians face what he described as an “imminent” risk.
Türk’s comments came as an independent U.N.-mandated fact-finding mission presented a report on human rights violations in the conflict.
Drone attacks
The mission said both the SAF and RSF are increasingly using long-range drones, allowing attacks to reach areas far beyond traditional front lines.
Mohamed Othman, chair of the U.N. Human Rights Council’s Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan, said drone strikes had killed and injured civilians in homes, schools, hospitals, markets and displacement sites, as well as during weddings, funerals and other gatherings.
The mission also alleged significant support for the RSF from individuals and entities in the United Arab Emirates, Chad, southeastern Libya and Puntland in Somalia.
The UAE has repeatedly denied allegations that it provides military support to the RSF.
Othman said repeated RSF drone attacks on El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, had affected water supplies, energy and other essential civilian infrastructure.
The city is under partial siege by the RSF.
The report said the SAF and RSF had both carried out attacks that harmed civilians.
It cited successive RSF drone strikes on a kindergarten and hospital in Kalogie, South Kordofan, that killed 114 people, including 60 children. It also said SAF attacks on Ad-Da’ein Teaching Hospital killed at least 70 people.
“Based on the evidence gathered, we found reasonable grounds to believe that both the SAF and the RSF committed serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law which may amount to war crimes,” Othman told the council.
Hospitals devastated
The World Health Organization said separately on Monday that three major hospitals in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum Teaching Hospital, the Ophthalmology Hospital and the Dental Hospital, had suffered extensive damage during the conflict.
Before the war, the facilities served as major referral and teaching hospitals, the WHO said.
“Operating theatres have been destroyed, imaging equipment lost and several wards have collapsed,” said Abdinasir Abubakar, the WHO representative in Sudan.
“Entire blocks and departments are out of service. The buildings need urgent structural repair before patients can be admitted safely.”
Despite the damage, medical staff continue to treat patients in parts of the hospitals that remain usable, Abubakar said, calling for assistance to repair the facilities.
The conflict has devastated Sudan’s health system, with attacks on medical facilities, shortages of medicines and supplies, and the displacement of health workers further limiting access to care.
The SAF and RSF have both been accused of widespread violations against civilians during the war, including attacks on civilian areas and critical infrastructure. Both sides deny targeting civilians.
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