UN rights chief: Sudanese civilians living in “hell” as war deepens

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, warned on Sunday that Sudanese civilians are living in “horrors and hell” as the war continues to intensify and society becomes increasingly militarised.

Speaking at a press conference in Port Sudan following visits to several Sudanese cities — his first since the outbreak of the conflict — Türk expressed grave concern over the expanding use of advanced military equipment by both sides, particularly drones, which he said has prolonged the fighting and deepened civilian suffering.

“The proliferation of sophisticated weapons has significantly strengthened the military capabilities of both the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, extending the duration of hostilities and worsening the humanitarian crisis,” Türk said.

He also warned of the growing militarisation of Sudanese society, including the arming of civilians and the recruitment and use of children, describing these trends as extremely alarming. Türk cautioned that parts of Kordofan could face a similar fate to El Fasher if the current trajectory continues.

“It is shameful that enormous sums are being spent on advanced weapons instead of being directed toward alleviating the suffering of the population,” he added.

The conflict between the Sudanese army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, headed by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has been ongoing since April 2023. The war has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 11 million, creating what the United Nations describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

The UN has repeatedly called on international actors to refrain from interfering in the conflict. While the Sudanese army accuses the United Arab Emirates of supporting the RSF — allegations denied by Abu Dhabi — Egypt and Saudi Arabia are seen as key allies of the army, and reports suggest the army has obtained drones from Iran and Turkey.