UN Warns of Rising Atrocity Risks in Sudan’s El Fasher

A woman searches through the burnt remains of her shelter at a displacement camp in Darfur, Sudan.

“We are seeing massive violations of international human rights law, direct attacks on civilians, and clear non-compliance with international humanitarian law,” said Chaloka Beyani, who recently assumed the post of Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Genocide Prevention.

Mr Beyani told UN News on Thursday that he has spoken with Sudan’s Resident Coordinator, Denise Brown, and intends to issue an advisory to Secretary-General António Guterres, the Security Council, and the wider UN system.

Raising the Alarm

“When our office sounds the alarm, it signals that the threshold for atrocity crimes may soon be crossed,” he said. “Early action is therefore essential.”

Graphic footage and reports of apparent war crimes began circulating online late last month, following the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia’s takeover of El Fasher after more than 500 days of siege against Government forces.

Ongoing Horror in Darfur

“We cannot hear the screams, but the horror continues,” UN relief chief Tom Fletcher told the Security Council on 31 October.

Mr Beyani’s office noted that several risk indicators for atrocity crimes are now present in Sudan, but stressed that only an international court or other competent legal body can determine whether genocide has occurred.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has also voiced alarm at reports of mass killings, sexual violence, and other crimes emerging from El Fasher, confirming that investigations into alleged war crimes since April 2023 are ongoing.

Ceasefire Reports Amid Humanitarian Crisis

The RSF has reportedly agreed to a “humanitarian ceasefire” on Thursday, following mounting international pressure. The truce was proposed by mediators from the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, according to reports.

Meanwhile, the UN warns that the humanitarian situation in North Darfur continues to deteriorate. Thousands of families displaced from El Fasher are living in extremely harsh conditions.

“Across Tawila and surrounding areas, displaced people lack adequate food, clean water, shelter, and medical care,” Deputy UN Spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Thursday.

Aid agencies and local partners are working to establish new camps, in addition to hosting more than 650,000 displaced people already in Tawila. In Tawila Al Omda alone, over 3,000 recent arrivals urgently need plastic sheeting, mats, and blankets as temperatures drop. Similar conditions are reported in Daba Al Naira and Um Jangour camps.