Title: The alarming situation of civilians in Sudan: a damning report by Amnesty International
Introduction :
Sudan is facing a major humanitarian crisis, marked by widespread violence against civilians. Amnesty International has just published an alarming report, entitled “Death has knocked on our door”, which highlights the horrors suffered by the population since the beginning of the clashes between the army and the paramilitaries in April 2023. These abuses, qualified of war crimes, have been documented in the capital Khartoum as well as in the Darfur region. In this article, we speak with Donatella Rovera, Crisis and Conflict Officer at Amnesty, to better understand the situation.
The situation of civilians: an unimaginable horror
According to the Amnesty International report, Sudanese civilians have endured unimaginable horror since the fighting began. War crimes are on the rise, with indiscriminate and deliberate attacks against the civilian population. Deliberate killings have been perpetrated, with women and girls being targeted and subjected to intolerable sexual violence. At the same time, looting and destruction of infrastructure exacerbate the already precarious situation of civilians, depriving them of access to basic foodstuffs and humanitarian aid.
Massive displacements and catastrophic humanitarian conditions
Faced with this relentless violence, millions of Sudanese have been forced to leave their homes and flee the clashes. Many have taken refuge in other parts of the country, while hundreds of thousands of people have crossed borders to seek refuge in neighboring countries. Chad hosts more than 300,000 Sudanese refugees, in catastrophic humanitarian conditions. The situation is alarming and requires an urgent response from the international community.
The responsibilities of the different actors
Amnesty International’s report highlights the responsibility mainly of the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (FSR) and allied militias in the abuses perpetrated against civilians. However, the Sudanese army is also implicated in human rights abuses. The motives behind these crimes are complex, mixing inter-community tensions and ethnic motivations. Moreover, the impunity enjoyed by combatants fuels the cycle of violence, encouraging new acts of brutality.
The abandonment of civilians by belligerents
One of the most worrying realities is the lack of consideration for civilians in this conflict. The belligerents do nothing to protect the civilian population, quite the contrary. Fighting broke out in the heart of inhabited neighborhoods, putting the lives of civilians in danger without any consideration. Civilians have been killed and injured in their homes, targeted by combatants. The tactics of war chosen by the two camps, in particular the use of residential districts as bases of attack, contribute to this dramatic situation.
Conclusion :
The civilian population in Sudan is living a real tragedy, marked by war crimes and unbearable violence. The international community can no longer remain indifferent and must act urgently to put an end to this situation. Those responsible for these abuses must be held to account, and measures must be taken to protect civilians and ensure their access to basic needs