The spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday said the global body is gravely alarmed by continued attacks on civilians across Sudan. 

Stéphane Dujarric, who was briefing the media, revealed that on Monday night in North Darfur, dozens of casualties were reported when an air strike hit a market located about 40 kilometres north-west of El Fasher.

“The UN is also deeply concerned about escalating attacks on populated areas in Khartoum. In eastern Khartoum yesterday (Monday), there were reports of civilians killed and injured when artillery struck a mosque during evening prayers,” he said. “Civilian casualties were also reported on Sunday as a result of heavy shelling in Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city.” 

“The UN reminds all parties to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to take all possible measures to avoid harm to civilians,” Dujarric added.            

On the health front, he said that the ongoing hostilities and recent funding cuts by major donors have severely disrupted health services in Sudan, including in the Darfur region. Last month alone, nearly half of all reported attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan occurred in Darfur.

“The UN’s partners working in health report that most facilities in the region have only one to two months of supplies remaining, with acute shortages in North and South Darfur states. The UN and its partners continue to do all they can to meet the rising needs – despite funding shortfalls and access constraints, including due to the ongoing hostilities,” Dujarric said.

“In North Kordofan, located to the west of Khartoum, the partners assessed recently that nearly 58,000 people – including displaced people, returnees and residents – are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. A health partner is now operating a facility and mobile clinic, and distributions of food and non-food items are planned. 

The UN continues to urge the international community to step up support for the humanitarian response in Sudan, both through increased funding and by pressing all parties to protect civilians, including aid workers, and ensure safe and unhindered access to people in need.   

Turning to South Sudan, Dujarric said that following reports of renewed escalation in some areas in the county, the peacekeeping mission (UNMISS) is continuing its intensive engagements with key national actors to try and broker a peaceful solution. 

“During meetings today with officials, including both the Vice President of the country, and the Minister of Defence, head of the peacekeeping mission, Nicholas Haysom, reiterated the urgent need to protect civilians, strictly adhere to the ceasefire, and resolve tensions through dialogue rather than military confrontation,” he stated. “The mission received reports of fresh aerial bombardments in Jikmir, near Nasir in Upper Nile State, as well as new clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition near the capital Juba.”  Radio Tamazuj