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On the two-year anniversary of Sudan’s civil war, human rights organizations have criticized what they describe as global indifference, calling for increased international efforts to resolve the crisis. A United Nations official also expressed concerns that the worst aspects of the conflict might still be ahead.<\/p>\n
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“For two years, we’ve seen a brutal conflict engulf millions of innocent people in dire situations, with ongoing violations and unrelenting suffering,” stated Mohamed Chande Othman, the head of the U.N.’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan, on Monday. “With the escalating hate speech and ethnic violence, we’re apprehensive that the most severe phases of this conflict are yet to come.”<\/p>\n
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Sudan has been engulfed in turmoil since April 2023 when clashes broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group. This civil war has triggered famines in parts of the country and led to widespread displacement.<\/p>\n
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According to a recent statement, the U.N. Children\u2019s Fund has indicated that Sudan is now facing the largest and most severe humanitarian crisis worldwide.<\/p>\n
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Elise Nalbandian, a regional advocacy and communications manager for Oxfam International, in an interview with The Guardian<\/em>, stated, “Sudan\u2019s situation has deteriorated to its worst state ever. We are witnessing the largest humanitarian, displacement, and hunger crises in history, surpassing all the most alarming records.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The grim anniversary of this civil war coincides with recent assaults by paramilitary forces in displacement camps and around El Fasher, as reported by The Guardian<\/em>. During these attacks, nine employees of Relief International lost their lives.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Today marks a day of disgrace. Disgrace for the combatants on both sides causing immense civilian suffering. Disgrace for the international community as it looks away while Sudan is engulfed in flames. Disgrace for the nations that perpetuate this violence,” remarked Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s senior director for research, advocacy, policy, and campaigns, in a statement on Tuesday.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rosas pointed out that both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, along with their allies, have engaged in heinous acts including sexual violence and torture, which constitute war crimes. “Despite these horrific acts, the international response has been largely passive. Alarmingly, the U.N. Security Council has not implemented a comprehensive arms embargo on Sudan, which would curb the steady influx of weapons that fuel these atrocious acts,” she added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In a commentary published Tuesday, directors from Human Rights Watch reflected both on the anniversary of the crisis and a conference on Sudan hosted by the United Kingdom, in partnership with the African Union, the European Union, France, and Germany, according to Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “As the U.K. hosts an international conference on Sudan today, the urgency to protect civilians could not be greater,” they noted. “It\u2019s critical that this conference results in tangible measures to halt ongoing atrocities in Darfur and secure robust international support for civilian protection.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They urged the U.K. to spearhead a global initiative to prevent further atrocities by forming a coalition of nations committed to urgently protecting civilians, and also to advance sanctions against military leaders.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n According to Reuters<\/em>, both the European Union and the U.K. have committed to increasing aid to Sudan at the conference.<\/p>\n\n\n