Edited News | OHCHR
“A report published this morning by our Office details multiple indiscriminate attacks by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in densely-populated areas, including sites sheltering internally displaced people – particularly in the capital Khartoum, in Omdurman, Kordorfan and Darfur during fighting between April and December 2023,” said Magango, speaking from Nairobi.
“Just this week, credible video evidence reviewed by our Office shows that several students travelling by road in North Kordofan State may have been beheaded by men in SAF uniform in El-Obeid City, based on their perceived ethnicity as being RSF supporters. The video footage which was posted on social media on 15 February shows troops parading with decapitated heads in the street while chanting ethnic slurs,” he said.
In Darfur, thousands have been killed in RSF attacks, some of which were ethnically motivated. The report finds that between May and November 2023, the RSF and its allied Arab militia carried out at least 10 attacks against civilians in El-Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, killing thousands of people, most of them from the African Masalit ethnic community. There were also killings by the RSF and its allies in the town of Morni and in Ardamata – where at least 87 bodies were buried in a mass grave.
“By mid-December, more than 6.7 million people had been displaced by the conflict – both within Sudan and into neighbouring countries. This number has since increased to more than eight million,” the spokesperson said.
The report cites the “People’s Authority to Support the Sudanese Armed Forces”, a pro-SAF entity, as stating that it had armed 255,000 young men in camps across Sudan. Children were also recruited by the RSF from Arab tribes in Darfur and Kordofan. African ethnic communities, including the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa also reportedly responded to recruitment campaigns by the SAF, it finds.
“There must be prompt, thorough, effective, transparent, independent and impartial investigations into all allegations of violations and abuses of international human rights and violations of international humanitarian law and those responsible must be brought to justice,” Magango said.
ENDS
In Geneva:
Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org
Jeremy Laurence - + 41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org
Thameen Al-Kheetan - + 41 76 223 77 62 / thameen.alkheetan@un.org
In Nairobi:
Seif Magango - + 254 788 343 897/ seif.magango@un.org
Tag and share - Twitter: @UNHumanRights and Facebook: unitednationshumanrights
STORY: UN Human Rights Spokesperson Seif Magango on the armed conflict in Sudan
TRT: 02:04
SOURCE: UNTV/OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: English/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 23 February 2024 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
1. Exterior shot : Palais des Nations
2. Wide shot : Briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “A report published this morning by our Office details multiple indiscriminate attacks by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in densely-populated areas, including sites sheltering internally displaced people – particularly in the capital Khartoum, in Omdurman, Kordorfan and Darfur during fighting between April and December 2023.”
4. Cut away: Briefing room.
5. SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Just this week, credible video evidence reviewed by our Office shows that several students travelling by road in North Kordofan State may have been beheaded by men in SAF uniform in El-Obeid City, based on their perceived ethnicity as being RSF supporters. The video footage which was posted on social media on 15 February shows troops parading with decapitated heads in the street while chanting ethnic slurs.”
6. Cut away: Briefing room.
7. SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “By mid-December, more than 6.7 million people had been displaced by the conflict – both within Sudan and into neighbouring countries. This number has since increased to more than eight million. ”
8. Cut away: Briefing room.
9. SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “There must be prompt, thorough, effective, transparent, independent and impartial investigations into all allegations of violations and abuses of international human rights and violations of international humanitarian law and those responsible must be brought to justice.”
10. Cut away: Briefing room.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , WHO
UN warns of unprecedented emergency in Gaza due to closed crossings, leading to fuel and aid shortages. Humanitarian operations at risk. Gaza faces famine, malnutrition, and dehydration. Ceasefire needed for aid deliveries.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , OHCHR , UNICEF
Summary: Gaza aid choked off by closure of key southern border crossings, leading to deep concerns about humanitarian operations and potential famine. UN agencies warn of deteriorating conditions and the need for access to essential resources. Israel's actions raise human rights concerns.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Ravina Shamdasani, UN Human Rights Spokesperson made the following comment on the increased crackdown on journalists in Russia Tuesday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA
Amid reports that some Palestinians have begun to leave Rafah ahead of an anticipated Israeli military operation in Gaza’s southernmost city, UN humanitarians on Monday insisted that they had no intention of quitting the vital aid hub.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , OCHA
Summary: UN warns of potential slaughter in Rafah, Gaza, due to Israeli military operation, risking humanitarian disaster and health crisis.
2
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences | UNRWA
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini will update the press on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.