United Nations: Rhino – The Sudanese people are facing one of the worst crises, exacerbated by impunity and authoritarian practices that feed on ethnic tensions, driven by narrow political and economic interests, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada El-Nashef said on Tuesday. She called on the international community not to allow this situation to continue, emphasizing that “this tragedy must end now.”

Addressing the Interactive Dialogue on Human Rights in Sudan at the 57th regular session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, she noted that after more than 16 months, “the conflict in Sudan continues to spiral out of control, with civilians bearing the brunt of the hostilities.”

The warring parties’ declarations of obligations to protect civilians remain hollow, with violations continuing unabated. “Indiscriminate attacks and the use of weapons with wide-area effects in densely populated areas have resulted in thousands of civilian casualties, the destruction of critical infrastructure including hospitals, schools and markets, and the destruction of livelihoods,” she said.

Between June and August, the UN Human Rights Office documented more than 864 civilian deaths in attacks on residential areas across Sudan.

The UN official was also deeply alarmed by ethnically motivated attacks and hate speech.

She further reported that the mobilization of civilians, including children, has intensified across Sudan, especially along tribal lines, “and this poses the risk of a widening civil war with other ethnic dimensions.”

She noted the continued arbitrary detention by both parties to the conflict and allied armed movements, documenting an increase in arrests by military intelligence and the imposition of death sentences for allegedly supporting the RSF, often based on real or perceived tribal identity.

“This senseless conflict is having a devastating impact on economic and social rights, especially the right to food, housing and education,” she emphasized.