Escalation of Violence in Sudan Raises Concerns of Global Collapse – Global Issues
REUNION ORGANIZATIONS, December 12 (IPS) – On December 9, a wave of bombings hit a market district in Sudan, killing at least 127 people. Eight barrel bombs exploded in the North Darfur town of Kabkabiya, marking the latest attack on populated areas during Sudan’s civil war. Both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) have received heavy criticism from humanitarian organizations for abusing civilians including violations of international humanitarian law.
According to statistics from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 61,000 people have died in Khartoum province alone after the conflict in Sudan. The United Nations (UN) adds that the conflict has displaced more than 11 million people, making it the world’s largest crisis. Additionally, there was significant damage to critical civilian infrastructure during the war.
On December 11, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) released a report that declared that the 20-month civil war in Sudan had caused “the greatest disaster on record”. Despite the fact that Sudan contains only about 1 percent of the world’s population, the country contains more than 10 percent of the world’s humanitarian needs.
The SAF issued a statement on December 11 denying responsibility for the latest attack, describing the allegations leveled against it as “false”. They also added that they believe they have the right to target any regions controlled by the RSF. RSF has not yet responded.
On December 10, the RSF carried out heavy artillery fire in the area of Omdurman, the largest city in Khartoum province. According to the country’s government, the attack killed more than 65 people and injured hundreds of others. The RSF, described by the government as a “terrorist force”, carried out the “biggest massacre by shooting civilians in the Karari area.” Shooting also hit the Sabreen market and neighboring districts, and a public transport vehicle in the 17th district, killing all the passengers.
The Director-General of Sudan’s Ministry of Health, Fath al-Rahman Muhammad al-Amin, told reporters that the number of injured people continues to register and that health workers are struggling to save lives amid the influx of injured people.
Mohamed Abdiladif, interim director of Save the Children in Sudan, described the two attacks as “unacceptable” as they happened in crowded areas where families were shopping for food with their children. Abdalif urged the warring parties to avoid targeting markets, schools, health centers and other important public infrastructure not only as a moral obligation, he said, “but an important step to ensure a stable, peaceful and prosperous future for Sudan.”
“All wars are cruel, but the damage done by this one is very frightening. Indiscriminate attacks are killing civilians, including young children, some of the areas most in need are still cut off, unable to access humanitarian aid,” warned Amy Pope, Director-General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Amnesty International reports that gender-based violence, mass killings, and obstruction of humanitarian aid are common in Sudan. In addition, there has been a new wave of fighting in western Darfur, as reports of genocide against the Masalit community are increasing.
Additionally, conflicts continued to escalate in the Zamzam refugee camp in North Darfur. Thousands of refugees have faced sporadic shelling from the RSF since December 1, causing them to flee en masse from their temporary homes. The spokesman of the camp, Mohammed Khamis Doda, confirmed that renewed artillery fire in the camp resulted in the injury of at least 9 civilians on December 9. Many witnesses described the RSF using long-range missiles, which destroyed a number of houses in the camp.
As a result of the extended wars, the living conditions of millions of Sudanese people have worsened. In August this year, the Famine Review Committee (FRC) determined the existence of famine in Zamzam camp. On December 6, Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, reported a total of 737 cholera cases, indicating the presence of an epidemic.
The situation in Malakal remains critical, and we are concerned that the outbreak is spreading to neighboring areas such as Tonga and Kodok,” said Zakaria Mwatia, MSF’s head of mission in the country.
The Sudanese government has called on humanitarian organizations to step up their response as the level of need increases by the day. Additionally, Sudanese citizens have quickly called for increased protection.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report in which it revealed a number of violations of international humanitarian law in Sudan. “Rapid Support Forces abuse of civilians in South Kordofan is a sign of continuing atrocities throughout Sudan. These new findings underscore the urgent need to send civilian protection equipment to Sudan,” said Jean-Baptiste Gallopin, senior crisis and conflict researcher at Human Rights Watch.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
