The United Nations has made a passionate appeal to the warring factions in Sudan to take immediate actions to stop the wanton killings in the country.
It pointed to the situation of people fleeing the capital of West Darfur state, El Geneina, subjected to attacks by Arab militias who are supported by Rapid Support Force (RSF) paramilitary.
U.N. Rights Office spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani, who made the call in a statement on Saturday, said the world body was gravely concerned about the situation as deadly violence had continued to rage in Darfur, with a warning that the conflict had taken an “ethnic dimension.”
“We are gravely concerned that such wanton killings are ongoing and urge immediate action to halt them,” Shamdasani said.
“People fleeing El Geneina must be guaranteed safe passage and humanitarian agencies allowed access to the area to collect the remains of those killed,” she added.
She went on to describe how people who escaped to Chad had given “horrifying accounts of armed Arab militia backed by the Rapid Support Forces killing people fleeing El Geneina on foot.”
“Witnesses have given corroborating accounts of Arab militia targeting men from the non-Arab Masalit people.
“All those interviewed also spoke of seeing dead bodies scattered along the road — and the stench of decomposition.
“Several people spoke off seeing dozens of bodies in an area referred to as Shukri about 10 kilometers (six miles) from Sudan’s border with Chad.
“16 people interviewed testified that they had witnessed summary executions and the targeting of civilians on the road from El Geneina to the border between June 15 and 16.
“El Geneina has become uninhabitable, while essential infrastructure have been destroyed and movement of aid to the city remained blocked.
“The agency therefore calls on the RSF leadership to immediately, unequivocally condemn and stop the killing of people fleeing El Geneina.
“Those responsible for the killings and other violence must be held accountable. We urge the immediate establishment of a humanitarian corridor between Chad and El Geneina, and safe passage for civilians out of areas affected by the hostilities,” she stated.