The humanitarian situation in Sudan has reached a critical point, with widespread conflict exacerbating the suffering of millions women and girls. The ongoing violence has led to a man made famine, while the floods led to increasing suffering, includes deaths and displacement of thousands across the country. Recently, the United Nations announced a famine in parts of Darfur, where thousands are facing extreme hunger and malnutrition, especially children and women. The combination of conflict, collapse of the state and the neglection from international community is leading to unprecedented levels of humanitarian catastrophe in the coming weeks.
This dire humanitarian conditions are deteriorating with increasing levels of violence and serious human rights violations. The recent shelling of maternity hospitals by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan is deeply concerning and has drawn widespread condemnation. Omdurman Maternity Hospital, in Khartoum was shelled by RSF forces on August 9th, just one day after the reopening of the hospital which was occupied for 10 months by the same forces and turned into a detention center. The hospital was recently opened after SAF control of some areas in Omdurman.
On August 11th, RSF shelled and destroyed large parts of the Women’s maternity ward in Al Saudi Hospital in Al Fasher causing significant damage and resulted in injuries and fatalities. The hospital was the only operating medical facility in the city amid continuous attacks for more than 4 months.
In Alobied city of North Kordofan,at least 30 schoolgirls were injured in a shelling by RSF on Alkhansaa school On August 14th. As the shelling continued, on August 15th on the residential areas in the city causing 20 deaths among them women and 105 injuries according to local health authorities.
On August 11th, at 5 am, RSF forces raided Julagni village near Abu Hujar area in Sennar state in central Sudan, and killed over 80 civilians. The raid came after the residents of the village resisted the abduction of a number of women and girls by RSF forces. The civilians succeeded in preventing the act of abduction using batons, stones and agricultural tools. On the second day the militia stormed the village with machine guns killing armless civilians, preventing their families from burying them and beating, abducting some girls and women and looting dozens of people and houses.
These attacks come at a critical time, in the wake of the Geneva peace talks on Sudan started August 14th. The international community must consider these developments, as the shelling of hospitals, attacks on civilians and CRSV underscores the urgent need for a ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The Geneva talks present an opportunity to address these violations of international humanitarian law and to push for measures that protect civilians and ensure the safety of medical facilities, women and girls and access to humanitarian aid. The outcome of these talks could significantly influence the future stability and humanitarian situation in Sudan if all parties involved in this war were present at the negotiation table. The absence of SAF from this talk had undermined the potential of achieving any improvement on the ground.
Additionally, the RSF has recently made significant advancements in Sennar and Blue Nile states. In Sennar, the RSF has taken control of key areas, including the capital, Singa, and has effectively divided the Sudanese Armed Forces’ positions in the southeast. This has led to widespread displacement, with over 136,000 people fleeing the conflict. The RSF’s control of Sennar opens new supply routes and strategic positions, further isolating Blue Nile state and complicating the humanitarian situation. These new advancements increased the fragility of SAF control over many areas in eastern and central Sudan. This ground control expansion is putting SAF in a defense position at the fighting and political frontiers, leading to further intransigence in its position from the issues of ceasefire, and granting humanitarian access.
SAF argued that its absence from Geneva talks was linked to failed implementation of Jeddah agreement signed a year ago, where RSF committed to evacuate from civilian areas and properties in Khartoum. The Jeddah Peace Agreement, signed on May 20, 2023, by representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, along with the United States and Saudi Arabia, aimed to facilitate a short-term ceasefire and humanitarian arrangements¹². Although the agreement initially brought hope for a reduction in hostilities and improved humanitarian access, it was quickly violated, leading to renewed clashes¹. The agreement’s failure highlights the challenges in achieving lasting peace and underscores the importance of the upcoming Geneva talks in finding a sustainable solution to the conflict.
Women groups and individual women experts are present in the talks in Geneva in second track capacity, which is an important role. But the Women Peace and Security National agenda and the calls from women groups convened recently by UN women in Kampala called for a seat in the negotiation table with 50% representation, which is far from being achieved at these talks.
In the wake of increasing attacks on civilians, medical facilities and CRSV across Sudan led by RSF forces, the only party of the conflict also present at the Geneva talks, the international community must use this opportunity to condemns the serious violations of international law and put pressure on the militia and its regional supporter the UEA- also present in the talks- to end these widespread violations, commit to an effective ceasefire and grant access for aid groups.
