UN warns of escalating human rights violations in Sudan, malnutrition threat for children
UN warns of escalating human rights violations in Sudan, malnutrition threat for children
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The United Nations has warned that Sudan is facing an escalating humanitarian and human rights catastrophe, with civilians and children bearing the brunt of intensifying violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
According to Anadolu Agency, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the RSF and its allies are responsible for widespread atrocities in and around El Fasher after months of siege, starvation, and bombardment. Addressing the Human Rights Council, he described the situation as a preventable catastrophe marked by mass killings, sexual violence, abductions, and attacks on health workers, forcing tens of thousands to flee. Türk cautioned that similar abuses could spread to other regions, including Kordofan, and called for urgent international action to protect civilians and curb the flow of weapons.
The humanitarian toll has been compounded by a deepening child hunger crisis. UNICEF warned that children in Sudan are “running out of time” as malnutrition reaches extreme levels, particularly in North Darfur. Confirmed data show acute malnutrition rates exceeding famine thresholds in several areas, while fighting and displacement have severely limited access to treatment. Nationwide, millions of children require urgent assistance, with hundreds of thousands expected to suffer severe wasting this year.
The collapse of Sudan’s health system has further worsened conditions. The World Health Organization reported more than 200 verified attacks on health care since the war began, causing thousands of deaths and leaving most facilities non-functional amid disease outbreaks.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has killed thousands, displaced millions, and drawn renewed calls from UN agencies for an immediate end to violence, unhindered humanitarian access, and accountability for grave violations.
