Brussels 22.09.2024 The European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms the dramatic escalation of fighting in El Fasher in southwestern Sudan, instigated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), reads the statement by the EU top diplomat Josep Borrell on the situation in El Fasher, Sudan. (Image: illustration)

“Consequences will reach a point of no return for thousands of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire of both belligerent parties, particularly those trapped in Zamzam camp, the largest camp for internally displaced people in Sudan.

“The EU recalls the obligations contained in the United Nations Security Council resolution 2736 demanding that the RSF halt the siege and de-escalate fighting in El Fasher immediately.

“Belligerent parties, their affiliated militias and their regional supporters must adhere to international humanitarian law, by protecting civilians from conflict, provide unhindered humanitarian access and allow civilians to move in and out of Zamzam camp.

“The EU urges both, the leader of RSF Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to meet at the negotiating table to find a peaceful solution to this conflict. We also call again on those who are fuelling the war, particularly regional and international sponsors, to cease their support in this context.

“The EU will not bear witness to another genocide and will continue to work with international accountability mechanisms to hold perpetrators to account for the gross human rights violations they have committed and continue to commit. The EU stands ready to consider additional sanctions, including against those in positions of leadership”.

UN chief Antonio Guterres’ spokesperson said the Secretary General was “gravely alarmed by reports of a full-scale assault” by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and called on its commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (Hemedti/Hemetti), “to act responsibly and immediately order a halt the RSF attack”.

Since May, the RSF has laid siege to the North Darfur state capital of El-Fasher – the only major city in Sudan’s vast western region of Darfur not under their control.

Even before their long-threatened multidirectional attack on the city hundreds perished, according to medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres.

The attacks on the city had also displaced hundreds of thousands and forced the nearby Zamzam displacement camp into all-out famine, the UN said.

El-Fasher has long been surrounded by multiple displacement camps – including Zamzam and Abu Shouk – and their populations have grown by hundreds of thousands since the war began.