KEY POINTS
- UN reports over 700 civilian deaths in Sudan’s al-Fashir siege.
- Zamzam camp faces famine as thousands flee RSF shelling.
- UN warns attacks may constitute war crimes, demands accountability.
The siege of al-Fashir in Sudan’s North Darfur state has claimed over 700 lives since May, with at least 1,143 people injured, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
According to Reuters, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been accused of relentless shelling and targeting densely populated areas.
“This alarming situation cannot continue. The Rapid Support Forces must end this horrible siege,” Türk stated, calling for an immediate halt to the violence that has left the city in ruins.
Intensifying conflict triggers humanitarian crisis in Darfur
The UN has warned that attacks on civilians by both the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces could amount to war crimes.
The ongoing conflict, which has persisted for over 18 months, has displaced more than 12 million people.
Zamzam camp near al-Fashir, housing over half a million people, is facing famine-like conditions.
Recent RSF artillery strikes have forced thousands to flee, compounding the dire humanitarian crisis in the region.
International plea for accountability amid escalating violence
Observers fear that an RSF victory in al-Fashir could lead to ethnic retribution, as seen in West Darfur last year.
A recent RSF attack on the city’s main hospital killed nine people, escalating international concerns about civilian safety.
The UN continues to push for accountability, with rights groups urging both warring factions to cease attacks on civilians. “Such acts may constitute war crimes and demand immediate investigation,” the UN stated.
