The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk is extremely concerned by the escalating violence and hostilities in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State, which are further exacerbating the risk of attacks against civilians, ethnically motivated violence and atrocity crimes, UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango said on Tuesday. He was speaking at the bi-weekly UN press briefing in Geneva.
“UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk is extremely concerned by the escalating hostilities and violence in Sudan. The violence is taking place in Al-Jazirah State,” he said.
“Since the defection of Abu Aqla Keikel, a commander in the Rapid Support Forces, to the Sudanese Armed Forces on 20 October, attacks by the RSF on villages in Al-Jazirah state have increased, apparently in retaliation for his defection and targeting members of his ethnic group,” he added.
“On Friday 25 October, at least 124 people were reportedly killed in an attack by RSF ground forces on Al-Seriha village,” he noted.
“This incident follows at least two other attacks by RSF ground forces on the nearby towns of Tamboul and Rufaa earlier in the week. Reports suggest hundreds of people were killed in Tamboul.” he said.
“They also indicate at least 25 cases of sexual violence in multiple villages in Sharq Al Gazira locality, including of three medical personnel and an 11-year-old girl, who died as a result,” he added.
Speaking at the at the biweekly UN press briefing in Geneva, Magango said, “As a result of the violence, thousands of families have reportedly been displaced from Al-Jazirah state into the neighbouring states of Gedaref and Kassala, adding to the already dire displacement crisis in the country,” said the spokesperson.
“There are also reports of burning of crops. At a time when over 25 million Sudanese are facing acute food insecurity because of the ongoing conflict, destruction of crops in a region considered the country’s breadbasket can only exacerbate an already catastrophic situation,” he said.
“UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk reiterates his call on all parties to strictly respect their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law, in particular by ensuring the protection of civilians,” said Magango.
“The leaders of both sides must promptly take all measures to de-escalate the situation,” he said
He also called for all alleged violations to be investigated and those responsible brought to justice, following fair trials.
Ends
STORY: UN Human Rights Spokesperson Seif Magango on escalating violence in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State
TRT: 02:40
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: English/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 29 OCTOBER 2024 - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
- Exterior shot: Palais des Nations
- Cutaway: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk is extremely concerned by the escalating hostilities and violence in Sudan. The violence is taking place in Al-Jazirah State.”
- Cutaway: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Since the defection of Abu Aqla Keikel, a commander in the Rapid Support Forces, to the Sudanese Armed Forces on 20 October, attacks by the RSF on villages in Al-Jazirah state have increased, apparently in retaliation for his defection, and targeting members of his ethnic group.”
- Cutaway: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “On Friday 25 October, at least 124 people were reportedly killed in an attack by RSF ground forces on Al-Seriha village.”
- Cutaway: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “This incident follows at least two other attacks by RSF ground forces on the nearby towns of Tamboul and Rufaa earlier in the week. Reports suggest hundreds of people were killed in Tamboul.”
- Cutaway: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “They indicate at least 25 cases of sexual violence in multiple villages in Sharq Al Gazira locality, including of three medical personnel and an 11-year-old girl, who died as a result.”
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “As a result of the violence, thousands of families have reportedly been displaced from Al-Jazirah state into the neighbouring states of Gedaref and Kassala, adding to the already dire displacement crisis in the country.
- Cut away: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): There are reports of burning of crops. At a time when over 25 million Sudanese are facing acute food insecurity because of the ongoing conflict, destruction of crops in a region considered the country’s breadbasket can only exacerbate an already catastrophic situation.”
- Cut away: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk reiterates his call on all parties to strictly respect the obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law, in particular by ensuring the protection of civilians.”
- Cutaway: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Seif Magango, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “The leaders of both sides must promptly take all measures to de-escalate the situation.”
- Cutaway: Briefing room
Similar Stories
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | UNCTAD
Publication of the Trade and Development Report 2024: Rethinking Development in the Age of Discontent
1
1
1
Edited News | IOM , OCHA , UNICEF , WHO , OHCHR
‘If UNRWA can’t operate, humanitarian system in Gaza will collapse’ – UN
The UN humanitarian and human rights community reacted forcefully on Tuesday to the vote by the Israeli Knesset banning the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), warning of the devastating impact on millions of Palestinians who depend on it.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | WMO
New data released by the UN on Monday indicating that greenhouse gases have hit a record high shows once again that urgent action and not words is needed from the world’s major polluters to protect us all from climate change, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) insisted.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , UNICEF , UNHCR
Gaza’s sick and injured face new attacks on health care, lethal evacuation delays – UN humanitarians
Amid reports of a new Israeli military raid on a Gaza hospital on Friday morning - and ongoing hostilities hindering polio vaccination in the north of the Strip - UN humanitarians pleaded again for the protection of health facilities and urgent medical evacuation of critically ill patients.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNFPA
Ukraine's birthrate plummets amid war, prompting a new demographic strategy.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , UNIFIL
UN peacekeepers determined to stay in south Lebanon, while humanitarians report more civilian suffering in Gaza and West Bank
UN peacekeepers are keeping their positions in South Lebanon despite heavy shelling and targeted attacks; their commitment to bringing back stability to the region is unwavering, the UN said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
Volker Türk calls on Tunisia to uphold rule of law and democratic freedoms, following pre-electoral context marred by human rights concerns
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk today called on the Tunisian authorities to protect the country’s democratic processes and uphold fundamental freedoms after a presidential campaign marred by a crackdown on the opposition, independent activists and journalists.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNHCR , UNICEF , OHCHR
With no let-up to the ongoing Israel-Lebanon conflict, the UN human rights office on Tuesday called for an independent probe into an Israeli airstrike that hit an apartment block in northern Lebanon a day earlier that left a reported 22 dead.
1
1
2
Edited News | OHCHR , WHO
Amid reports of intensifying Israeli bombing in Lebanon and Gaza overnight and continuing Hezbollah rocket fire into Israel, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, called on Friday for an end to the “killing, destruction [and] bellicose posturing” by those in power.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk updates the Human Rights Council in Geneva on the situation in Haiti
1
1
1
Edited News | HRC
Volker Türk, Haut-Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l'Homme au sujet de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC)
1
1
1
Edited News | WFP , OHCHR
UN humanitarians in Lebanon on Tuesday described the massive challenge of trying to reach some 1.2 million people who have fled heavy Israeli bombardment and evacuation orders, driven by the fear that what happened in Gaza may befall them, too.