UN Rights Chief Warns: Blocking Aid to Sudan May Constitute a War Crime
The United Nations human rights chief has expressed deep concern over the apparent deliberate denial of safe access for humanitarian agencies in war-torn Sudan, suggesting that such actions could amount to war crimes. The conflict in Sudan involves the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), engaged in a power struggle with Sudan’s army since April of the previous year. This protracted war has resulted in thousands of casualties, the displacement of millions, and dire warnings of a looming famine.
Addressing the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, Volker Turk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, painted a grim picture of Sudan, referring to it as a “living nightmare.” He specifically highlighted the deliberate obstruction of safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian agencies within Sudan, characterizing it as a serious violation of international law with potential implications of war crimes.
Turk urged the warring parties to fulfill their legal obligations by immediately opening humanitarian corridors to prevent further loss of life. Reports indicate that aid supplies have been looted, humanitarian workers attacked, and bureaucratic obstacles imposed by the army-controlled hub of Port Sudan, hindering the timely delivery of much-needed assistance.
Notably, the Sudanese government’s decision to prohibit aid deliveries through Chad has escalated concerns about the risk of famine in Sudan’s Darfur region. The order effectively blocks a crucial route for supplies, exacerbating an already precarious situation in Darfur, which is under the control of the RSF.
The humanitarian crisis in Sudan has reached alarming proportions, with approximately half of Sudan’s population, around 25 million people, requiring humanitarian assistance and protection. The conflict has forced millions to flee within Sudan and seek refuge in neighboring countries such as the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. This crisis not only poses a direct threat to the well-being of the Sudanese population but also has far-reaching implications for peace, security, and humanitarian conditions across the entire region.
Turk’s impassioned plea underscores the urgent need for concerted international efforts to address the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan. The denial of access to aid and the resulting suffering of the population raise serious moral and legal concerns, emphasizing the imperative for immediate action to alleviate the plight of those affected by the conflict.
