Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) is outraged by the continued horrifying slaughter, destruction, and forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women, and children who have nowhere to go. While the situation in Darfur has become increasingly dangerous, sadly, the international community has shamefully not treated the current catastrophe in Darfur and the urgent need for lifesaving assistance with a sense of urgency.
On June 4th, the city of Kutum was attacked by Rapid Support Forces killing over 50 people and wounding others, burning the entire city, the market, and the entire internally displaced Kassab camp, housing over 100,000 of the displaced genocide victims who have been forced to flee over the past 20 years.
The city of El Geneina has suffered attacks more than five times. The death toll reportedly exceeds 2,000, and more than 2,000 are currently wounded and in desperate need of medical attention, food, water, and other basic needs to survive. El Geneina is currently facing unprecedented humanitarian crises as the city has been completely destroyed, along with all government institutions and services, including hospital and water sources. To make matters worse, the city has been under siege for more than ten days now, completely surrounded by heavily militarized Rapid Support Forces (RSF) members preventing survivors seeking to flee for safety or those facing medical emergencies from leaving the city, while the world attention focuses far away in Jeddah where negotiations for yet another superficial ceasefire are currently underway. As I write today, there is no access to phone services, the internet, or any civilian vehicle to transport the wounded.
While the warring parties are paying lip service to the ceasefire agreement, their military is advancing, as sources on the ground confirmed that the areas of Mayo in southern Khartoum have been subjected to heavy air bombardment, destroying civilian homes and part of the market, killing over 27 people, 8 of whom were women. 18 more have been wounded and transported to Bashaer hospital, 4 were taken to Turkish hospital for treatment, and many more have reportedly gone missing.
We are gravely concerned that the situation in Darfur is becoming more and more dangerous, with no sign of hope that the RSF will have a change of heart or any protection mechanism. More cities are becoming isolated as Zalingei has been attacked numerous times; 5 neighborhoods were completely looted, about 8 people have been killed, and 7 have been reported to be abducted and have yet to be released. All institutions are completely looted, including the University of Zalingei, and the main hospital is currently out of services, making survival nearly impossible.
There are credible sources documenting incidents of home invasion and detention of civilians and civil society leaders in Khartoum, Omdurman, and the Eastern Nile area. The recent incidents, as documented by the Commission, reveal a pattern of arbitrary detention, inhumane treatment, and gross violations of the rights of civilians who have no connection to the ongoing conflict. The Commission’s reports on further house raids, looting, and assaults targeting individuals such as Professor Ali Shamou, poet Muhammad Abdel-Hay, Aisha Musa, Major General Talaat Farid, Lieutenant General Ahmed Musa, Ms. Nawal Abu Qusaisa, and Ms. Ihsan Kazam exemplify the extent of the violations and abuses perpetrated by the RSF.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF)’s detention of numerous civilians, subjected to extremely harsh conditions, is distressing. The testimonies of victims, such as the young man from the Al-Shajara area, highlight the dire circumstances endured by detainees in facilities like the Sports City in Khartoum.
Of utmost concern is the reported human massacre in the village of Umm Hamira, where civilians suffered retaliation for an incident involving RSF members. The Commission’s accounts suggest a horrifying loss of life and an environment of fear preventing proper burial rituals.
We at DWAG call on the international community, including the US government, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and the African Union, to take immediate steps toward humanitarian intervention and measures of accountability for these violations and abuses, with a focus on providing justice and reparations to the victims. We call on the international community, the United States, and the UN Security Council and the African Union to take the following measures:
- Demand urgent regional and international humanitarian intervention in Darfur to save lives, particularly in El Geneina, Kutum, Zalingei, and other areas facing urgent need.
- Demand that the Sudanese government and Rapid Support Forces withdraw their forces from all cities and areas inhabited by civilians, IDPs, and all those who are vulnerable, and open all of Darfur up to humanitarian access,
- Authorize high-level Security Council delegates to investigate all violence,
- Impose measures of criminal accountability, as well as support the ICC in investigating past and present crimes and bring those responsible to face trial,
- Impose targeted sanctions on individual generals for committing and promoting gross human rights violations, including travel bans and asset freezing,
- Demand that Sudanese authorities disarm the RSF and withdraw its forces from civilian areas, in particular near the areas of camps for the internally displaced,
- Call for authorization of neutral UN or international forces to protect civilians, as per the Chapter Seven mandate.
DWAG appeals to you to stand in solidarity with the people of Sudan, particularly areas facing humanitarian disaster. At DWAG, we reiterate our commitment to speak up for all Sudanese facing the tragedies and the humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur and urge you to add your voice to us so we can collectively compel the international community to swift humanitarian intervention and bring the voices of those supporting efforts that promote human rights, peace, and stability in the region.
Niemat Ahmadi, DWAG President
DWAG team
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