UN rights chief: Attacks in North Darfur trap civilians in El Fasha; at least 43 reported killed

Volker Türk, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, said escalating violence in North Darfur has left dozens dead and trapped civilians in El Fasha City.

Türk told UN News that since the Rapid Support Forces began their push into El Fasha, at least 43 people have been reportedly killed, including women and children. He said El Fasha is the only locality in Darfur still controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces and that civilians are afraid to flee because of the risk of being killed.

The high commissioner noted the situation is compounded by shortages of essential supplies after delivery trucks were unable to transit freely through territory controlled by the Rapid Support Forces. Türk said forces had burned down villages in western Darfur — he named Derma, Umushosh, Sarafaya and Osbani — and warned that those actions raise the possibility of further ethnically motivated violence, including mass killings.

Türk recalled that last year’s fighting and attacks in West Darfur between the ethnic Arab Ruzegat tribe and the ethnic African Masalet people left hundreds of civilians dead or injured and thousands displaced. He called for an end to the more-than-yearlong conflict.

Türk’s remarks were carried in the UN News bulletin.