The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk is extremely concerned by the escalating violence and hostilities in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State, which are further exacerbating the risk of attacks against civilians, ethnically motivated violence and atrocity crimes, UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango said on Tuesday. He was speaking at the bi-weekly UN press briefing in Geneva.
“UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk is extremely concerned by the escalating hostilities and violence in Sudan. The violence is taking place in Al-Jazirah State,” he said.
“Since the defection of Abu Aqla Keikel, a commander in the Rapid Support Forces, to the Sudanese Armed Forces on 20 October, attacks by the RSF on villages in Al-Jazirah state have increased, apparently in retaliation for his defection and targeting members of his ethnic group,” he added.
“On Friday 25 October, at least 124 people were reportedly killed in an attack by RSF ground forces on Al-Seriha village,” he noted.
“This incident follows at least two other attacks by RSF ground forces on the nearby towns of Tamboul and Rufaa earlier in the week. Reports suggest hundreds of people were killed in Tamboul.” he said.
“They also indicate at least 25 cases of sexual violence in multiple villages in Sharq Al Gazira locality, including of three medical personnel and an 11-year-old girl, who died as a result,” he added.
Speaking at the at the biweekly UN press briefing in Geneva, Magango said, “As a result of the violence, thousands of families have reportedly been displaced from Al-Jazirah state into the neighbouring states of Gedaref and Kassala, adding to the already dire displacement crisis in the country,” said the spokesperson.
“There are also reports of burning of crops. At a time when over 25 million Sudanese are facing acute food insecurity because of the ongoing conflict, destruction of crops in a region considered the country’s breadbasket can only exacerbate an already catastrophic situation,” he said.
“UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk reiterates his call on all parties to strictly respect their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law, in particular by ensuring the protection of civilians,” said Magango.
“The leaders of both sides must promptly take all measures to de-escalate the situation,” he said
He also called for all alleged violations to be investigated and those responsible brought to justice, following fair trials.
Ends
STORY: UN Human Rights Spokesperson Seif Magango on escalating violence in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State
TRT: 02:40
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: English/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 29 OCTOBER 2024 - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
- Exterior shot: Palais des Nations
- Cutaway: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk is extremely concerned by the escalating hostilities and violence in Sudan. The violence is taking place in Al-Jazirah State.”
- Cutaway: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Since the defection of Abu Aqla Keikel, a commander in the Rapid Support Forces, to the Sudanese Armed Forces on 20 October, attacks by the RSF on villages in Al-Jazirah state have increased, apparently in retaliation for his defection, and targeting members of his ethnic group.”
- Cutaway: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “On Friday 25 October, at least 124 people were reportedly killed in an attack by RSF ground forces on Al-Seriha village.”
- Cutaway: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “This incident follows at least two other attacks by RSF ground forces on the nearby towns of Tamboul and Rufaa earlier in the week. Reports suggest hundreds of people were killed in Tamboul.”
- Cutaway: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “They indicate at least 25 cases of sexual violence in multiple villages in Sharq Al Gazira locality, including of three medical personnel and an 11-year-old girl, who died as a result.”
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “As a result of the violence, thousands of families have reportedly been displaced from Al-Jazirah state into the neighbouring states of Gedaref and Kassala, adding to the already dire displacement crisis in the country.
- Cut away: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): There are reports of burning of crops. At a time when over 25 million Sudanese are facing acute food insecurity because of the ongoing conflict, destruction of crops in a region considered the country’s breadbasket can only exacerbate an already catastrophic situation.”
- Cut away: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk reiterates his call on all parties to strictly respect the obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law, in particular by ensuring the protection of civilians.”
- Cutaway: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “The leaders of both sides must promptly take all measures to de-escalate the situation.”
- Cutaway: Briefing room
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
The ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza City continues to overwhelm the war-torn enclave’s medical professionals, with four more hospitals forced to shut down this month alone, the UN World Health Organization said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
A UN Human Rights report released today details the dire situation of thousands of civilians detained since Russia’s full-scale armed attack on Ukraine in 2022.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , UNICEF
Sudan war: Life-saving cholera vaccination campaign begins in Darfur
Amid the devastating war in Sudan, UN aid teams are overcoming major obstacles to curb a cholera outbreak claiming lives across the country, with young children particularly at risk.
2
1
2
Edited News , B-roll | UN WOMEN
Women and girls still reeling from Afghanistan's recent deadly earthquake face even greater suffering rebuilding their lives and livelihoods without much more help from the international community, UN Women said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Rising civilian casualties, growing ethnic violence and the grim humanitarian situation in Sudan underscore how the crisis there is deepening, according to a UN Human rights report published today.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNITED NATIONS
United Nations agencies staff demonstrates on Place des Nations in Geneva to denounce the killing of their colleagues in Gaza.
1
1
1
Edited News | WMO
The world’s water resources face growing pressure from climate change while emergencies related to the vital resource are increasingly impacting lives and livelihoods, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk addressed the Human Rights Council during a meeting on the Israeli strike on negotiators in Qatar on Tuesday. “Israel’s strike on negotiators in Doha on 9 September was a shocking breach of international law, an assault on regional peace and stability, and a blow against the integrity of mediation and negotiating processes around the world,” he said.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF
Gaza: Thirsty and starving, war-battered families face ‘inhumane’ evacuation
As bombs continue to fall on Gaza City as part of the intensifying Israeli military operation, families with starving children are being pushed southwards from one “hellscape” to another, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
New UN Human Rights report finds 10 years of increased suffering repression and fear
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday published a report on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 2014.
1
1
2
Edited News | UNICEF , UNHCR
The ongoing humanitarian response to the devastating Afghanistan earthquake disaster continued on Friday, although essential services have been cut for operational reasons following reinforced Taliban restrictions on women working with the UN, the global body said.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Un nouveau rapport du Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme sur la République démocratique du Congo évoque le spectre de crimes de guerre et de crimes contre l'humanité dans le Nord et le Sud-Kivu.,