UN rights chief warns of new wave of atrocities in Sudan's Kordofan
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has warned of an impending "wave of atrocities" in Sudan's Kordofan region, citing hundreds of civilian deaths, sieges, and famine. He called for an immediate end to fighting and unrestricted humanitarian access to avert another man-made catastrophe.
The United Nations human rights chief has issued an urgent warning that Sudan's Kordofan region faces a new, devastating wave of atrocities as fighting intensifies. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed deep alarm on Thursday over escalating clashes involving the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N). The conflict has already resulted in the documented deaths of at least 269 civilians since late October, with the actual toll believed to be significantly higher due to communication blackouts.
Pattern of Violence and Siege Conditions
The UN human rights office has received reports of retaliatory killings, arbitrary detentions, abductions, sexual violence, and the forced recruitment of children. Turk highlighted specific attacks, including an RSF drone strike on a mourning tent in El Obeid that killed 45 people and an SAF aerial strike in Kauda that left at least 48 dead, mostly civilians. Critical towns like Kadugli and Dilling in South Kordofan remain under siege, with famine confirmed in Kadugli and looming in Dilling. All warring parties are blocking humanitarian access, exacerbating the crisis.
Call to Action and Historical Parallels
"It is truly shocking to see history repeating itself in Kordofan so soon after the horrific events in El Fasher," Turk stated, urging the international community not to allow another similar catastrophe. He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, safe passage for over 45,000 recently displaced people, protection for aid workers, the restoration of telecommunications, and a halt to the arms flows fueling the conflict. "We cannot remain silent in front of yet another man-made catastrophe," he emphasized.
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Broader Implications and International Responsibility
The warning underscores the rapid descent of Sudan into one of the world's worst humanitarian and human rights crises. For the international community, including nations like Türkiye that have consistently advocated for peaceful resolutions and provided humanitarian aid in conflict zones, the situation demands urgent diplomatic pressure and coordinated action to protect civilians and ensure life-saving assistance reaches those in desperate need.
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