The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council has decided to hold an emergency session on Friday to discuss human rights violations in and around the city of El-Obeid in Sudan's North Kordofan state.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Council announced that the emergency session would be held to address "the human rights situation in and around El-Obeid in light of the ongoing conflict in Sudan."
This step follows a request by the United Kingdom, with the support of Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway, for an urgent debate from the Council, which is currently holding its regular session. These countries plan to submit a draft resolution to the 47-member Council calling for "an immediate de-escalation."
The countries warned that in El-Obeid, which has been under siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for months, "around 500,000 civilians could be subjected to widespread atrocities." The RSF has been fighting the Sudanese army since April 2023.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Sudan Doctors Network reported that since the RSF occupied El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, last October, they have detained 20 doctors, four of them women, and their fate is unknown.
The non-governmental network called on the RSF to reveal the fate of the detainees and to allow health workers to perform their duties without being targeted. The statement noted that from April 15, 2023, until the occupation of El Fasher, health workers in North Darfur were extensively targeted, with the number of killed health personnel reaching 25.
The conflict in Sudan, now in its fourth year, has led to tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of over 12 million people. According to the UN, this has caused the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis.
After the RSF captured El Fasher, the last major army stronghold in West Darfur, clashes have intensified in recent months, especially in the Kordofan region and the Blue Nile state near the Ethiopian border.
Maria Nica / Editor
