Geneva- Sudan Nile
The United Nations Has Warned That The Increasing Use Of Drones, Especially In Targeting Civilians And Civilian Objects, Will Exacerbate The Situation In The Country And Worsen Human Suffering, As Current Use Suggests Continuation In The Coming Autumn Season.
Sudan Had Issued A Statement Last Week In Which It Accused The Militia Of Using Ethiopian Territory In An Attack By Drones Of Emirati Origin Against Khartoum Airport And Some Infrastructure, Including Hospitals.
Volker Türk, The United Nations High Commissioner For Human Rights, Called For Taking Strict Measures To Prevent The Transfer Of Weapons, Including Advanced Armed Drones, To The Warring Parties. He Said: “Drone Attacks On Civilians And Civilian Objects Will Only Exacerbate The Situation If Met With Complete Impunity, With The Increasing Normalization Of This Violence As An Adopted Tactic By Both Parties.”
Volker Türk, The United Nations High Commissioner For Human Rights, Strongly Condemned Today The Increasing Use Of Armed Drones In Sudan And Their Lethal Impact On Civilians, Warning Of An Escalation And Expansion Of Violence In The Coming Weeks, Which May Lead To Further Displacement And Disruption Of Vital Aid Flows.
The High Commissioner Pointed To The Findings Of The Office’s Sudan Team, Which State That Drone Strikes Caused The Death Of At Least 880 Civilians – Which Is More Than 80% Of Total Conflict-Related Civilian Deaths – Between January And April Of This Year, Saying: “Armed Drones Have Now Become The Main Cause Of Civilian Deaths.”
“This Increasing Reliance On Drones Allows For The Continuation Of Hostilities Without Abatement During The Upcoming Rainy Season, Which Previously Contributed To Calming Ground Operations. The Escalation Of Hostilities In The Coming Weeks, As Parties Seek To Extend Or Consolidate Their Control Over Territory In Light Of Changing Conflict Dynamics, Portends The Risk Of Spreading To The Central And Eastern States Of The Country, Which Warns Of Dire Consequences For Civilians In Vast Areas.”
“He Added: We Must Not Allow This To Happen. The International Community Has Warned That Unless Immediate Action Is Taken, This Conflict Is About To Enter A New, Bloodier Phase.”
Most Civilian Deaths From Drone Strikes In The First Quarter Of The Year Were Recorded In The Kordofan Region. Recently, Specifically On May 8, Air Strikes By Drones On Al-Quz In South Kordofan And Near El-Obeid In North Kordofan Resulted In The Death Of 26 Civilians And The Injury Of Others – These Are Areas Under The Control Of The Sudanese Government.
The United Nations Statement Indicated That Drones Were Used, And Repeated Raids Were Launched On Civilian Targets And Infrastructure, Exacerbating The Suffering Of Civilians Who Are Already Suffering From Difficult Conditions Amid Declining Opportunities To Obtain Adequate Food, Clean Water, And Health Care. Markets Were Repeatedly Targeted, As At Least 28 Raids Resulted In Civilian Casualties, And Health Facilities Were Also Targeted, Having Been Bombed At Least 12 Times Within Four Months, Leading In Some Cases To Their Closure And Forcing Civilians To Travel Long Distances To Receive Treatment, Or Depriving Them Of Health Care Altogether. Fuel Depots And Supply Routes Have Also Been Repeatedly Targeted In Recent Weeks.
The High Commissioner Türk Said: “The Intensity Of These Attacks Has Shattered The Relative Calm That Prevailed In Recent Months, With Increasing Numbers Of Civilians Returning To The Capital, Raising Fears Of A Return Of Hostilities To Khartoum.”
The High Commissioner Warned That The Escalation Of Violence Will Also Obstruct The Provision Of Vital Humanitarian Aid. Türk Said: “A Large Part Of The Country, Including Kordofan, Faces An Increasing Risk Of Famine And Acute Food Insecurity, A Situation Exacerbated By Delays Or Expected Shortages In Fertilizers As A Result Of The Gulf Crisis.” He Added: “The Ongoing Attacks On Health Care Facilities In Several States Have Also Led To The Disruption Of Many Hospitals And Clinics Or A Decrease In Their Capacity To Work, Which Increases The Risks Faced By Civilians Displaced From Conflict-Affected Areas.”
The United Nations High Commissioner For Human Rights Said: “I Call Again Upon All Parties To Ensure The Protection Of Civilians, Including Ensuring Their Safe Movement From Combat Areas.” He Added: “Parties To The Conflict Must Facilitate The Safe, Voluntary, And Calculated Movement Of Civilians Through Displacement Routes. Civilians Must Be Protected From Retaliatory Acts, Including Summary Execution, Sexual Violence, Arbitrary Detention, And Kidnapping.”
