2023-12-20 12:00:00
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Responding to the outbreak of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in Wad Madani, Sudan’s second city, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, said:
“We are deeply concerned about the terrible situation of the civilian population of Wad Madani. In an environment of fear and panic, many thousands of people have fled the city in recent days. We urge the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to protect civilians and ensure safe passage for those wishing to leave areas affected by violence.
“Wad Madani has also served as a humanitarian operations center since the conflict in Sudan began eight months ago, and reports of humanitarian aid operations being suspended due to insecurity exacerbate an already dire situation. Many people now trapped in Wad Madani or fleeing the city had already fled there from Khartoum for safety when hostilities broke out in April. We call on all parties to the Sudan conflict to ensure immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access to all civilians in need, inside and outside Wad Madani.
“The people of Sudan have been enduring unimaginable horror for eight months, with massive civilian casualties from both deliberate and indiscriminate attacks by warring parties and sexual violence against women and girls, targeted attacks on civilian objects such as hospitals and churches, and looting. generalized. We call for respect for international humanitarian law, including an end to all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Additional information
An escalation of violence occurred in April 2023 following weeks of tensions between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces over security force reform during negotiations for a new transitional government. In a report published in August, “Death Came To Our Home”: War Crimes and Civilian Suffering In Sudan, Amnesty International documented the commission of widespread war crimes by the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces and Quick to conflict.
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