The United Nations High Commissioner Volker Türk just issued a press statement this morning in which he called for immediate cessation to hostilities and for the Sudan Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces to return to the negotiating table.

“Sudan has already endured so much pain and suffering. The fighting is born out of power games and personal interests that only serve to alienate the democratic aspirations of the population,” said the High Commissioner, wondering “Do those responsible not understand that the civilian population now only craves a peaceful life?”

He noted that much of the fighting has been concentrated in heavily populated parts of the capital Khartoum and other residential areas of cities elsewhere in the country and have featured air strikes and artillery shelling, including the use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects, exposing civilians to risk of death and injury, and that in the four days since fighting began, at least 185 people have been killed and 1,800 wounded.

“Thousands upon thousands of civilians are trapped in their homes shielding from the fighting, with no electricity, and unable to venture out and worried about running out of food, drinking water and medicine,” Magango stated.

“Both parties, he said must remind their fighters of their obligations under international law to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals and ensure that they respect them,” he said.

“He said he was also appalled by reports of attempted rape. He called for prompt, thorough, and independent investigations into the killings of civilians, including three WFP staff, along with other reported human rights violations, and to hold those responsible to account.

“To quote the High Commissioner, he said only a few weeks ago, Sudan appeared to be on the right path towards an agreement that would restore civilian rule. Common sense must prevail, and all parties must act to de-escalate tensions. The shared interests of the Sudanese people must come first,” he said.

END

For more information and media requests, please contact: 

In Geneva

Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or 

Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or 

Jeremy Laurence +  +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org or

Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org

In Nairobi

Seif Magango - +254 788 343 897 / seif.magango@un.org

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1. Exterior shot: Wide shot entrance of Palais des Nations
2. Wide Shot: Briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) – Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): “Sudan has already endured so much pain and suffering. The fighting is born out of power games and personal interests that only serve to alienate the democratic aspirations of the population,” said the High Commissioner, wondering “Do those responsible not understand that the civilian population now only craves a peaceful life?”
4. Cut aways: Briefing room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): “Thousands upon thousands of civilians are trapped in their homes shielding from the fighting, with no electricity, and unable to venture out and worried about running out of food, drinking water and medicine,”
6. Cut aways: Briefing room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): “Both parties, he said must remind their fighters of their obligations under international law to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals and ensure that they respect them.”
8. Cut aways: Briefing room
9. SOUNDBITE (English) – Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): “He said he was also appalled by reports of attempted rape. He called for prompt, thorough, and independent investigations into the killings of civilians, including three WFP staff, along with other reported human rights violations, and to hold those responsible to account.”
10. Cut aways: Briefing room
11. SOUNDBITE (English) – Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): “To quote the High Commissioner, he said only a few weeks ago, Sudan appeared to be on the right path towards an agreement that would restore civilian rule. Common sense must prevail, and all parties must act to de-escalate tensions. The shared interests of the Sudanese people must come first.”