Rhino: Agencies – Forty-six Sudanese, regional, and international organizations have warned that Sudan is on the brink of a new wave of humanitarian disaster, calling for the declaration of a comprehensive, immediate, and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire throughout the country, amid the rapidly escalating military conflict in the Kordofan states, and what they described as early warning signs that the city of El Obeid is on the verge of becoming a battlefield where widespread violations against civilians could occur.

The appeal, signed by professional unions, human rights and humanitarian organizations, and regional and international networks, came at a time when warnings are mounting that the war could spread to new areas, amid fears of a repeat of the horrific scenes witnessed in El Fasher, which resulted in heavy losses of life and infrastructure and led to massive waves of displacement.

In a joint statement, the organizations affirmed that their call stems from legal and moral obligations to protect civilians and does not take sides with any party to the conflict. They emphasized that the international community’s priority must be to prevent war crimes and grave violations of international humanitarian law, and to spare the population the effects of military operations.

El Obeid on the Brink of Explosion

The statement said that the city of El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State, faces unprecedented risks amid frequent reports of large-scale military mobilizations by the Rapid Support Forces in the vicinity of the city, countered by the intensive reinforcement and deployment of Sudanese Armed Forces within it, which increases the likelihood of fighting breaking out in populated areas housing large numbers of displaced persons fleeing the war in Darfur, Kordofan, and other parts of the country”.