UN says attacks on civilians in Darfur must be halted immediately

Both the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, expressed their “deep concern” about the escalation of violence and its effect on civilians in Darfur, in statements issued on 10 March and 11 March respectively. Since late February, fighting between rebel groups and local militia in South Darfur has left thousands of people homeless, with reports of looting and villages burnt. In North Darfur, over the past few days, thousands of people have fled inter-communal fighting and sought protection at the Unamid team site in Saraf Omra. The Secretary-General referred to the urged “all parties to immediately cease hostilities and negotiate a peaceful settlement to these conflicts”, and called on “the Government of Sudan and warring parties to cooperate with Unamid and humanitarian partners in providing access to conflict areas and ensure the protection of civilians, as well as the provision of assistance to those in need”. ’Disproportionate use of force’ The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that “There has been a disproportionate use of force by armed groups in areas in South Darfur that are not military targets. There must be an immediate halt to attacks on unarmed civilians”. “I urge the authorities to protect civilians and hold to account those who have committed grave breaches of human rights and humanitarian laws.” Pillay voiced concern that Unamid peacekeepers, as well as human rights and humanitarian agencies, had been prevented from reaching areas affected by the attacks. “The Sudanese government must allow Unamid to fulfil its mandate to protect civilians, and grant access to populations in need,” she stressed. The High Commissioner noted that the recent violence increased the number of displaced, with many of those fleeing ending up in camps in South Darfur such as Kalma and El Salam, near Nyala, “where the number of displaced was close to 200,000 before the recent attacks”. “Their arrival is having an overwhelming impact on the already limited water, food and health care available in the camps. The increase in displacement is a worrying trend at a time when civilians were being encouraged to return to their villages of origin,” Pillay said. The High Commissioner called on all parties to the conflict to participate in Unamid’s mediation initiative. She also urged all armed groups to avoid using civilian populations in many regions of Darfur as a shield for military operations.“A military approach will not bring about the peace that the people of Darfur deserve after so many years of armed conflict.” File photo: A Unamid convoy in Darfur (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related: Unamid Head of Media Relations comments on ‘challenges’ in Darfur (10 March 2014) Escalating violence: Unamid calls for unhindered access in South Darfur (3 March 2014)  18,000 newly displaced arrive at South Darfur camps; El Salam camp surrounded by militia forces (3 March 2014) Musa Hilal’s militias plunder, burn, take control of North Darfur’s Saraf Omra (9 March 2014)