UN Warns Civilians Bear Brunt of Sudan’s Brutal War

A UNICEF-supported clinic in war-torn Sudan, where children suffering from severe malnutrition receive treatment and lifesaving care.

As Sudan’s nearly 30-month conflict between rival militaries drags on, looting, burning, and shelling continue to devastate lives and communities.

“They burned everything,” said one witness of a shelling attack on Zamzam displacement camp in Darfur. “They claimed they only wanted to fight soldiers, but they punished the whole community.”

War crimes and human rights violations committed by both the Sudanese army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are detailed in a new report to the UN Human Rights Council by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM).

The report, A War of Atrocities, documents large-scale attacks on civilians and vital infrastructure, including medical centres, in serious breach of international law.

“Our findings leave no room for doubt: civilians are paying the highest price in this war,” said Mohamed Chande Othman, chair of the FFM.

According to the report, civilians are targeted for their actual or perceived affiliation with the opposing side. Executions, torture, and rape have become daily realities for many.

The RSF has also deliberately attacked non-Arab communities in El Fasher and surrounding areas, worsening what the UNHCR describes as the world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis. As of July, some 12.1 million people had been forced to flee their homes.

Many women interviewed said they suffered sexual assault. One survivor described being raped along with other women and underaged girls in an abandoned building.

“Victims – especially women and children, who bear the greatest burden – deserve justice and reparations,” said investigator Joy Ngozi Ezeilo.

Medical and psychological support remains scarce, with survivors deterred from reporting attacks by fear of retaliation and the frequent targeting of hospitals by both SAF and RSF.

At least 84 Sudanese humanitarian workers have been killed since April 2023, while others have been detained or abducted. The FFM is also investigating a June drone strike on a World Food Programme and UNICEF convoy that killed five aid workers.

Meanwhile, humanitarian assistance continues to be delayed or blocked.

“Our report not only exposes atrocities, it also lays out a roadmap for justice,” said FFM expert Mona Rishmawi.

The report calls for civil society initiatives, stronger international action, and an arms embargo. It also urges support for the International Criminal Court and an end to cooperation with individuals suspected of war crimes.

“The international community has the tools to act,” Othman said. “Failure to do so would not only betray the Sudanese people – it would betray the very foundations of international law.”