New York: The United Nations expressed grave concern over reports of civilian casualties and forced displacement amid escalating fighting in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State in Sudan.
"With fighters advancing on the city and escape routes cut off, hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped, bombarded, starving, and lacking food, health care, and security," said Tom Fletcher, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, in a statement today.
He stressed the need to allow safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access to all civilians in need, noting that humanitarian agencies have life-saving supplies, but intensified attacks have made it impossible to deliver aid.
Fletcher explained that local humanitarian workers continue to save lives under fire, calling for an immediate ceasefire in El Fasher, and throughout Darfur and Sudan.
The UN Coordinator stressed the need to allow civilians safe passage and enable them to receive aid. He said, "Those fleeing to safer areas must be allowed to do so in safety and dignity, those who remain-including local responders-must be protected, and attacks on civilians, hospitals, and humanitarian operations must cease immediately."
He also stressed the need to hold accountable those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, noting that all parties to the conflict in Sudan have obligations under international humanitarian law, as stipulated in Security Council Resolution 2736 (2024).
The resolution demands that the Rapid Support Forces lift the siege of El Fasher and calls for an immediate cessation of fighting and de-escalation in and around the city.
