UN experts call for international action following attacks on refugee camps in Sudan News
J. Craig/VOA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
UN experts call for international action following attacks on refugee camps in Sudan

A group of UN independent experts on Thursday called for the international community to act urgently to help those fleeing conflict in Sudan. The joint statement was issued in response to reports of severe human rights violations taking place in the Zamzam and Abu Shuk refugee camps in North Darfur.

The experts, composed primarily of UN Special Rapporteurs, have called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors, enhanced protection for women and children, and support for “accountability mechanisms” such as “independent investigations and legal proceedings at both domestic and international levels.” They further stated that “the international community must act decisively to ensure justice and protection for those most affected.”

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked Zamzam camp on April 19, resulting in “indiscriminate shelling, deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, and the collapse of already fragile health, food and water services.” Over 332,000 people have since fled the camp as a result of the bombardment.

The statement follows previous calls from the UN to end the conflict, which began between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in 2023. It has resulted in the internal displacement of more than 10.7 million people, which is currently the highest level of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the world. Both the RSF and SAF have been accused of disregarding international humanitarian law over the course of the conflict.

According to the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, IDPs are defined as “persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee … as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognized State border.” Under the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention and 1977 Additional Protocols I and II, parties are obligated to refrain from displacing civilians and to allow them voluntary safe return.

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