London [UK], August 4: As the conflict in Sudan continues to escalate, a prominent human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has published a damning report uncovering extensive war crimes perpetrated by both parties involved in the fighting.
The report, titled 'Death Came To Our Home': War Crimes and Civilian Suffering In Sudan, points to attacks carried out by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by rival commanders General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and Mohamed HamdanDagalo, respectively.
These attacks have resulted in devastating civilian casualties, with thousands of innocent lives lost since the outbreak of the civil war in April.
The conflict has also displaced a staggering 3.3 million people from their homes.
Amnesty International's Secretary-General, AgnesCallamard, emphasized the horrific reality faced by civilians caught in the crossfire: "Civilians throughout Sudan are suffering unimaginable horror every single day as the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces recklessly vie for control of territory."
She called for an immediate end to the targeting of civilians and urged the responsible parties to provide safe passage for those seeking safety. Additionally, the report highlights the urgent need for justice and reparations for victims and survivors.
The documented atrocities include sexual violence against women and girls, deliberate attacks on civilian installations like hospitals and churches, and widespread looting. Interviews with 181 Sudanese refugees, primarily in Chad, served as crucial sources for the report, which focused on the capital, Khartoum, and the West Darfur region.
The situation in West Darfur, where non-Arab Masalit people have been targeted, has drawn particular attention, with the discovery of a mass grave providing evidence of ethnically motivated violence.
The power struggle between General Al Burhan and Dagalo, popularly known as Hemedti, has already resulted in the deaths of at least 3,000 people. These attacks frequently strike densely populated civilian areas, leaving innocent people at grave risk.
The tragedy of Ala' al-Mardi, a 26-year-old doctor killed in her own home in Omdurman, illustrates the devastating impact on civilian lives, Al Jazeera reported.
Survivors have recounted numerous cases of sexual violence perpetrated by RSF members or allied Arab militias, with some victims as young as 12 years old. In response to the report, both the SAF and RSF rejected Amnesty International's findings, accusing each other of violations.
Nevertheless, Amnesty International has called on the international community to step up humanitarian support for Sudan and implored neighbouring countries to open their borders to refugees seeking safety.
Additionally, they urged the UN Security Council to swiftly extend the arms embargo, which currently applies only to Darfur, to encompass the entire country. The report also stressed the importance of international influence to bring an end to these grave violations of human rights.
As the situation in Sudan remains dire, the world
must unite to address the humanitarian crisis and ensure accountability for the atrocities committed against innocent civilians.
Source: Qatar Tribune