LOC18:06
15:06 GMT
GENEVA, July 17 (KUNA) -- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Thursday deplored the killing of dozens of civilians amid ongoing hostilities in Sudan's Kordofan region over the past week.
In a statement issued from Geneva, the UN Human Rights Office said it has verified the killing of at least 60 civilians by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the (Bara) locality of (North Kordofan) since July 10, adding that civil society groups have reported that up to 300 people were killed.
"It is distressing that more than two years since the conflict began, parties to the conflict in Sudan continue to demonstrate callous disregard for civilians' lives and safety," said Turk.
According to the statement, the latest civilian deaths come amid worrying reports that the RSF was mobilizing for an offensive on (El-Obeid); the capital of North Kordofan state.
The UN Human Rights Chief also expressed continued concern for the safety of civilians in (El-Fasher) in (North Darfur) following multiple RSF attacks on the besieged city in recent days, including a ground attack on July 11-12, which reportedly resulted in civilian casualties.
Turk said, "An escalation of hostilities in North Darfur and Kordofan will only further aggravate the already severe risks to civilians and the dire humanitarian situation in a conflict that has already wrought untold suffering on the Sudanese people."
He urged those with influence to act to prevent such an escalation and to ensure that both parties uphold their obligations under international law including on the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Turk renewed his calls on the warring parties to ensure safe, sustained and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid including through humanitarian pauses and to prevent and repress violations of international law.
"All alleged violations must be fully and independently investigated and those responsible brought to justice," he stressed. (end)
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