The civilian death toll in Sudan has surged to at least 275 between January 31 and February 5, a threefold increase from the previous week. The situation is exacerbated by intensified violence in South Kordofan and Blue Nile. Humanitarian workers face increasing threats, with critical shortages in medical supplies and food. The OHCHR has called for immediate action to protect civilians amid the ongoing conflict.
The civilian death toll in Sudan has notably increased, reaching at least 275 fatalities from January 31 to February 5, as reported by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). This represents a dramatic threefold rise compared to the previous week, during which at least 89 civilians were reported dead amid the ongoing violence. The worsening situation is particularly severe in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, where the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, warns of a potential humanitarian disaster.
Hostilities have escalated with increased artillery shelling, airstrikes, and drone attacks targeting densely populated regions, including Khartoum and various parts of Darfur and Kordofan. South Kordofan’s capital, Kadugli, has recorded at least 80 civilian casualties, with alarming reports of women and children being utilized as human shields. Meanwhile, conditions in Blue Nile are deteriorating, as indications of mass mobilization for conflict prompt concerns of further violence.
The perilous increase in civilian deaths highlights the grave risks faced by non-combatants amidst the consistent failure of conflict parties and their affiliates to safeguard civilians. Seif Magango, spokesperson for OHCHR, stated, “The sharp increase in civilian deaths underscores the dire risks civilians face.” This troubling trend is compounded by threats to humanitarian workers, who are often mistakenly perceived as collaborators with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and become targets for violence.
Reports indicate that at least one aid worker has received a death threat, and since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, approximately 57 members of a local volunteer network have lost their lives. Furthermore, critical shortages of medical supplies and rising food insecurity are particularly pronounced in South Kordofan, where the malnutrition rate is alarmingly high.
The OHCHR has implored all conflicting parties to cease indiscriminate assaults and targeted attacks against civilians. Mr. Magango emphasized that “The Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces – and their allied movements and militias – must respect their international law obligations and take concrete steps to protect civilians from harm, including humanitarian workers and human rights defenders.”
The escalating violence in Sudan has resulted in a devastating surge in civilian casualties, with reports indicating a threefold increase in deaths within a single week. Humanitarian workers are increasingly endangered, complicating relief efforts during a severe humanitarian crisis marked by food insecurity and medical shortages. All parties to the conflict are urged to adhere to international law and take prompt actions to protect civilians, highlighting an urgent need for action to mitigate the burgeoning crisis.
Original Source: news.un.org
