Sudan: OHCHR calls for ‘urgent action’ to end military attacks on people fleeing El Geneina
An explosion of ethnic violence in Darfur mainly by nomadic “Arab” groups in association with the RSF who have been fighting national forces for control of the country since mid-April, has led thousands to flee to Chad your neighborhood
‘Horrible news’
In a statement, OHCHR Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said that interviews with people who fled the devastated town of El Geneina had revealed “horrific reports” of people being killed on foot by RSF-backed forces. .
“All those we spoke to still spoke of seeing dead bodies scattered on the road – and the smell of decay”, he said. “Many people talk about seeing dozens of bodies in the area referred to as Shukri, around 10km from the border, where one or more of the Arab forces are reported to be based.”
He said immediate action to stop the killings was necessary.
“The High Commissioner for Human Rights is calling on the RSF leader to immediately, condemn unequivocally and stop the killing that people fled El-Geneina, and other violence and hate speech against them on the basis of their race. Those who cause murder and other violence must be held accountable.”
Life is safe
He added that people fled El Geneina must be guaranteed life safety and humanitarian agencies are allowed to enter the area so that they can collect the bodies of the dead.
“Of the 16 people we have been able to interview, 14 have confirmed that they they summarize executions and the targeting of civilian groups on the road between El-Geneina and the border – either shooting people close to them and asking them to lie on the ground or opening fire on people.”
The civilian exodus from the city increased following the killing of the state governor on 14 June a few hours after he accused the RSF and the army of “massacre” – raising the specter of hundreds of thousands killed between 2003-2005 during a government campaign of violence.
Ms. Shamdasani said that the evidence indicated the murders that took place on 15 and 16 June, but also during the last week.
A deadly hate speech
“We understand the killings and other crimes are continuing and we are following the continued hate speech against the Masalit community, with calls to kill and expel them from Sudan.”
A 37-year-old told the UN that from his group of 30 people who fled to the border of Chad, only 17 made it throughThe spokesman said.
“Some were killed after coming under fire from RSF and ‘Arab’ vehicles near the Chad border, while others were killed briefly, he said. Those who were left had their phones and money taken from them by armed soldiers who shouted: ‘You are a slave, you are a Nuba’“.
A 22-year-old woman told similar news of murder. He told how a badly wounded young man had to be left on the ground: “We had to leave him because we had only one donkey with us”.
“El Geneina has become homeless“, Ms. Shamdasani said with critical infrastructure damaged and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the city, blocked.
“We urge the immediate establishment of a humanitarian corridor between Chad and El-Geneina, and a safe place for civilians to leave the areas affected by the conflicts.”
