Archives: Statements

 

 

 

Washington, D.C. / Geneva – The Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) welcomes the decision by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to extend the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) on Sudan. The resolution – A/HRC/60/L.18, titled “Responding to the human rights and humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing armed conflict in the Sudan” – passed on October 6, 2025, and extends the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) in Sudan for one year. This renewal allows investigators to continue documenting ongoing atrocities and human rights violations committed by both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the people of Sudan, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other grave violations of international law.

This decision comes after the joint effort by a global coalition of human rights organizations, including Darfur Women Action Group(DWAG), in urging the UN Human Rights Council members to vote to extend the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) on Sudan. This call came amidst escalating atrocities in Darfur and across Kordofan. The current crisis in Sudan is rooted in the long-standing cycle of genocide and impunity that started in Darfur more than 20 years ago. The genocide that started more than two decades ago has yet to be resolved, and the victims of the past are facing unprecedented attacks today.  The scorched earth campaign of  2002- 2003 genocide has resulted in conservative estimates indicating that over 300,000 civilians have been killed, and over 3 million displaced and remained in Camps for two decades,  because their attackers have yet to be apprehended or held accountable. 

Today, the war has devastated the lives and livelihoods of countless civilians across, driving 13 million more out of their homes, with 26 million estimated to be facing severe hunger and food insecurity. Famine in Darfur has reached its breaking point, and the siege in El Fasher has been used as a tool of killing by the RSF,  as 260,000 civilians are trapped in El Fasher without food, medicine, or other means of survival. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) imposed famine, where countless men, women, and children are facing starvation, disease, and ethnically targeted violence. The suffering in Darfur, Kordofan, and the surrounding regions continued as the region became isolated, with starvation, mass murder, displacement, and ethnic violence continuing unabated.

The renewal of the FFM mandate is of significant importance, as the FFM has been one of the few international mechanisms systematically recording the truth of what is happening in Sudan. Since its establishment in 2023, the FFM has documented and reported on widespread violations by both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), including indiscriminate shelling of civilians, systematic sexual violence, and deliberate starvation as a weapon of war. Its reports have helped raise international awareness, and its continuation is necessary to preserve critical evidence of gross human rights violations and crimes committed in Sudan, which can pave the way for future justice for the victims and accountability for perpetrators.  

As part of its advocacy, DWAG has actively campaigned for the FFM’s renewal. During the 60th Session of the Human Rights Council, DWAG joined over 100 civil society partners in signing a letter coordinated by Defend Defenders, urging at least a two-year extension. DWAG President Niemat Ahmadi, along with other CSOs, met with more than 20 country’s  delegations in Geneva, participated in high-level panels, and delivered remarks during the debate on Sudan, emphasizing that “Documentation and establishing a record for serious international crimes is of paramount importance for taking an atrocities prevention approach to resolving the crises in Sudan, which starts with accountability.”

While DWAG commends this decision to extend the FFM as a critical step forward, we stress that the scale of the crisis in Sudan demands a stronger, longer-term commitment from the member states. The one-year extension, though welcome, must be accompanied by sustained resources, political will, and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that the FFM has access to information to secure evidence that leads to justice and accountability.

DWAG reiterates that the work of the FFM is far from over. Countless survivors remain unreached, their stories untold, and their trauma unrecorded. The mission must now be strengthened, resourced, and granted full access to operate inside Sudan. Continued pressure from global civil society proves that speaking out can yield results, and it must not stop here.

We call on the Human Rights Council and all member states to:

• Guarantee unrestricted access for the FFM to besieged areas, including El Fasher, Tarasin, and Kordofan;
• Provide full logistical and financial support to expand the mission’s reach and ensure thorough, survivor-centered documentation;
• Preserve and act upon collected evidence, ensuring that it informs prosecutions at both international and national levels;
• Hold external enablers accountable, including those supplying arms, financing militias, or obstructing humanitarian access;
• Recognize that this extension must be a first step, not an endpoint, toward a sustained international justice process for Sudan.

The extension of the FFM is a direct outcome of sustained advocacy, and it serves as a reminder that international engagement can bring tangible progress toward justice

We believe that resolving the crises in Sudan can’t be achieved without proper accountability. The proper accountability can’t be achieved without the collection of evidence and establishing records for the man-made atrocities in Sudan.  

With Gratitude,

Niemat Ahmadi, President, 

Darfur Women Action Group

 

 

 

 

To our supporters,

We at Darfur Women Action Group would like to mark this International Women’s Day by recognizing the resilience, courage and resolve of the women of Sudan fighting for justice in face of horrific atrocities. We are pleased to honor all of the brave Sudanese women for their unmatched resilience and for using their strength and courage to help their community survive and persist in the wake of genocide, war, sexual violence, and displacement, in Sudan, abandoned by the world.

It has been nearly two years since Sudan was engulfed in vicious violence, with indiscriminate attacks resulting in death, destruction, and displacement of millions of innocent civilians, particularly in Darfur and across Sudan. Sexual and gender based violence has been a defining feature of the recent war in Sudan, where rape has been systematically used as a weapon of war.

Last year, the UN Panel of Experts on Sudan and the UN Fact Finding Mission (FFM), reported widespread and escalating conflict-related sexual violence in Darfur, including kidnapping, rape, and sexual exploitation of women and girls.

Both the UN panel of Experts and the UN FFM reported widespread sexual violence committed by members of the RSF and allied militias in all areas under their control and the targeting of women due to their ethnicity, particularly in Darfur.  DWAG alone has documented about 350 cases of rape and sexual violence and over 150 cases of reproductive emergency among displaced women in Darfur. Most of whom are still in dire need of treatment, trauma counseling and psychosocial support 

Despite these risks, grassroots and women-led organizations continue to be the lifeline for their people. When the war erupted and the international aid agencies abandoned Sudan, it was the women of Sudan, along with volunteers and civil society leaders, who stepped up, becoming frontline humanitarian workers: going out every day, delivering aid and helping their communities survive, documenting atrocities, and ensuring that the international community keeps its eyes on Sudan. “It’s indeed their bravery that draws the bold line between hope and despair,” said Ms. Ahmadi, DWAG president.

However, they cannot do it much longer without help from the global community. At DWAG, we promised them that they will never remain silent as these inhuman acts continue with total impunity. 

Today, the situation for Sudanese women and children is dire. Every week, we receive new information from the ground on the use of sexual and gender based violence as a weapon of war. On Tuesday, March 4, UNICEF released a disturbing report on mass sexual violence. Armed militias of men have been committing rape and sexual assault against children as young as one years old. Some have been affected so deeply by this trauma that they have attempted to end their own lives. These acts of violence cannot be allowed to continue. 

Sudanese women and children are amongst the most vulnerable populations within this conflict and genocide and are subject to extreme horrors. Not only do women and children face the brunt of mass sexual violence, they are often forced to contend with severe social stigma and a fear of retaliation. In addition to the stigma of even coming forward as a survivor, there are very limited medical and social services that can address the needs of those who have been harmed. In the fall of last year, the world witnessed in horror as a large number of women in the El Jazeera state were forced to committ suicide to avoid rape.  According to the United Nations, 6.7 million in Sudan were in need of services addressing gender based violence by the end of 2023. Women’s healthcare has been gravely affected by war. Hospitals and medical services that specifically address women’s issues and gynecology have been attacked by RSF shelling leaving women with no place to go. Additionally, female-led households are particularly vulnerable to famine and food insecurity. The majority of 13 million displaced by war in Sudan are women and children.

The women of Sudan are powerful, resilient, and courageous and have been on the frontlines fighting for change, despite the target it puts on their backs. In 2019, women made up 2/3rds of the peaceful protests that led to the ousting of genocidaire, war criminal, and former Sudanese president, Omar Al-Bashir. Not only must the violence against Sudanese women end, but they must be given their rightful place in decision making and role in the peace process. In 2023, Sudanese women of all backgrounds came together in Uganda to formulate their visions for peacebuilding and their priorities regarding the gendered impact of war. Sudanese women have proven themselves to be persistent, brave, and effective participants and their demands must not be brushed aside.

Throughout this conflict, the international community has taken limited intervention and action to prevent genocide, mass atrocities, and gender based violence. There has been no attempt made to protect vulnerable members of Sudanese societies from mass rape, displacement, food insecurity, and more. 

The crimes against women and their community in Sudan are crimes of global magnitude that require global solidarity and actions. Therefore, on this International Women’s Day, DWAG would like to remind our supporters to stand in solidarity with the women of Sudan, speak out and demand serious action to end sexual violence, the use of rape as a weapon of war, and genocide in Sudan.

We call on the UN Security Council, the African Union, the United States, and the larger international community to fulfill their obligation to the women of the world and take the following steps to support and protect Sudanese women. 

• UNSC to adopt a gender-responsive atrocities prevention framework for resolving crises in Sudan which include UNSC using existing measures at its disposal to pressure the belligerents to immediately cease the war and all the crimes against women.
• Prioritize strong UN presence on the ground in Sudan for civilian protection, unhindered humanitarian aid delivery and adequate documentation of atrocities.
• UNSC must propose clear benchmarks for women’s inclusion, and integrate  the UN envoy’s  mandate and obligate its other organs to report periodically on women’s  situation. Financial resources and technical assistance is paramount to ensure women are empowered and enabled to participate from the start including in ceasefire negotiation, monitoring and the long-term peace building effort.
• Criminal and financial accountability for crimes committed in Sudan, with special emphasis on crimes committed against women and women’s inclusion in the process of justice from investigation, during the trial and post-trial arrangements.  
• Member states must include crimes committed against women a priority measure in sanctions designation, all financials and criminal accountability processes.
• Adequate funding for women led organizations for documentation and protection of the GVB survivors and restoration of their dignity.

What you can do to help:

• Support our Stand with Sudan campaign by contacting your member of Congress, the United Nations Security Council members, or writing a letter to the editor of your local newspapers.
• Reshare our posts on social media and use the hashtag #StandWithSudan and #EmpowerWomenofSudan.
• Light a candle and change your social media profile pictures to a purple theme
• Donate to DWAG to help fund our efforts on the ground in Darfur and Sudan as a whole.

Please join us this month in celebrating the heroic and resilient women of Sudan by standing in solidarity and taking action to end their suffering. When we combine our efforts, we are capable of achieving great change.

Thank you for your continued support.

Niemat Ahmadi, Founder and President of DWAG

The first week of March brought new devastation for the Sudanese people, particularly those residing in Darfur and Khartoum. The humanitarian crisis remains dire as civilians are purposely targeted, unprotected, and face imminent starvation by both the RSF and SAF as their clashes for territorial control intensify. 

 El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has been subject to intentional siege and repeated attacks from the RSF since the war started in early 2023. These terrifying and calculated attacks escalated in January with the paramilitary group attempting to seize control of the city. In February, an RSF attack on the famine-stricken Zamzam Refugee Camp in El Fasher left 8 dead, over 30 injured, and tens of thousands of people displaced with nowhere to go. The refugee camp has been turned into a battleground. The RSF continues its systematic targeting of Indigenous African tribes, committing horrifying crimes against those who have lived in the camp for over two decades and have nowhere to go, some of the most vulnerable of Sudan’s internally displaced population.

During the first week of March, the RSF attacked Darfur again with an escalated barbarity and cruelty, with a focus on the areas around El Fasher, Zamzam Refugee Camp, and Dar As Salaam.

• On March 2nd, the RSF targeted the Abu Shouk IDP Camp and Navaisha Market in El Fasher with artillery shelling, killing 6 civilians 
• On March 3rd, 3,500 civilians were displaced within North Darfur as a result of widespread, targeted RSF attacks. In El Fasher, the RSF is accused of attacking 52 villages and killing 15 people, raping women and children, burning villages, looting livestock and supplies, and burying water wells in the process. In Dar As Salaam, the RSF is accused of attacking 25 villages and killing civilians, burning villages, and looting, leaving people with no means of survival. 
• On March 5th, the RSF attacked the Abu Shouk IDP Camp again with artillery shelling, killing 6 more people and injuring at least 80. Additionally, the Sudan Doctors Network accused the RSF of killing 8 people and wounding 46 others in an attack on the villages of Abu Dilak and Um Ghubeisha in North Darfur.
• On March 7th, the United Nations reported that the humanitarian situation within Zamzam Refugee Camp has reached a breaking point. Due to heavy shelling on the camp, Doctors Without Borders ceased their operations. Amazingly, there has been a new initiative to start a local ambulance within the camp, speaking to the incredible resilience of the Sudanese people in the face of such violence. But this is not enough, there is an urgent need for humanitarian intervention in Darfur.

The sheer number of terrifying atrocities that have occurred in Darfur over the span of just a few days, demonstrates the urgency of the situation in Sudan and the alarmingly fast escalation of violence against civilians, with mass murders being reported nearly every day. It is unfathomable to consider that Darfur is experiencing a genocide right before our eyes and for a second time. 

The horrifying onslaught of violence was not limited to the Darfur region. Radio Dabanga reported on March 3rd, that 7 civilians had been killed by the SAF in a town in the North Kordofan region as they clashed with the RSF. Some of those killed or injured in the bombardment were also targeted by the RSF with gunfire, once again demonstrating the clear targeting of civilians by both parties and a disturbing lack of regard for international law. On March 5th, it was reported that a child was killed in the Omdurman area of Khartoum along with 5 others who were injured in artillery shelling by the RSF. In Khartoum, RSF attacks injured at least 15 people with live ammunition. It was additionally reported that the RSF has been using residential areas in Khartoum, east of the Nile, to hold detainees. 

On March 4th and March 6th, the UN released two reports on human rights violations in Sudan. In a devastating report on mass sexual violence, UNICEF revealed that armed militias have been raping hundreds of children, including some as young as one years old. There were 221 cases of rape against children reported since the start of 2024 but this number is likely a severe undercount. These instances are severe violations of international law and constitute war crimes. The second report detailed a pattern of human rights abuses by both the RSF and the SAF within detention centers in the state of Khartoum. Reports of torture included sexual violence, severe beatings, overcrowding, lack of sanitation, inadequate food and water, and the use of children as prison guards. There were also reports of discrimination from both the RSF and SAF based on ethnicity and perceived affiliation with the opposition. Unfortunately, these incidents are not limited to Khartoum as OHCHR has reported on a similar pattern occurring in the states of Darfur and Gezira. 

The first week of March brought unfathomable horrors for the Sudanese people, particularly those residing in Darfur and Khartoum. As the violence escalates, it becomes more urgent than ever that the international community steps in and puts an end to the suffering. These recent attacks are not isolated incidents. They are a part of the RSF’s deliberate and calculated policy of extermination and they require accountability and justice from the international community in response.

We cannot allow these international crimes to continue unhindered. 

We call on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the African Union, the United States, and the larger international community to take the following steps to end the suffering and save lives in Sudan:

• Swiftly authorize and deploy civilian protection forces to protect the innocent Sudanese people, particularly in Darfur; 
• Impose  criminal and financial accountability for all individuals and states complicit in committing past and present genocide and war crimes in Sudan;
• Demand that the warring parties immediately cease all attacks and strictly adhere to a permanent, verifiable ceasefire;
• Authorize urgent and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid for all in need across Sudan;
• Press the warring parties to stop the torture, murder, rape, and starvation of civilians as a strategy of war;
• U.S., UNSC, and allies must hold the regional and international enablers supplying weapons to the warring parties in Sudan accountable; 
• US and allies must cease the selling of arms to the UAE and prevent genocide in Sudan.

The people of Sudan have suffered for far too long. We urge you to call on our world leaders to take action in support of Sudan. The millions of vulnerable people facing imminent death in Sudan must not be ignored. 

With gratitude,

Niemat Ahmadi
President, Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG)
The DWAG Team

Dear Secretary of State Blinken and members of the mediation team,

Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) and the undersigned Sudanese women civil society leaders, activists, refugees, and displaced persons in the diaspora and Sudan, extend our gratitude to you and the

U.S. government for taking steps to address the suffering of the Sudanese people. We are writing to you now with urgency to sound the alarm on the escalating violence, increased severe humanitarian crisis, and the critical need for civilian protection in Darfur and across Sudan. Today’s crisis, fueled by long-standing impunity and inaction regarding crimes committed in Darfur over the past two decades, demands immediate intervention. We urge the U.S. government and all stakeholders to take robust action to deliver desperately needed lifesaving humanitarian aid and authorize UN-led forces to protect civilians before it is too late.

Sudan has been engulfed in a vicious war that has brought untold suffering to the women, men, and children of Sudan. Since April 2023, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been engaged in a senseless war and have committed heinous crimes against the people of Sudan, including crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. The violence, which began in Khartoum, rapidly escalated across the country, with Darfur experiencing the most devastating atrocities, including the ethnic slaughter of the Masalit and other indigenous African communities. While the RSF continues to occupy, indiscriminately shell and loot civilians’ homes, by using rape, sexual and gender-based violence as a tactic of war, the SAF are employing heavy artillery shelling, air strikes, and indiscriminate attacks mainly targeting civilians’ homes, markets, essential public services, and evacuation routes. Women and girls as young as 10 years of age have been abducted and raped numerous times, sometimes, in front of their families in an attempt to break the families’ will and destroy their dignity.

In addition, the deliberate targeting of humanitarian workers and local volunteers in Darfur is extremely concerning, as it has severely undermined aid operations and put millions of people at high risk of starvation. Both warring parties have employed starvation as a weapon of warfare against innocent civilians by blocking humanitarian access. As a result, over 10 million people are displaced within Sudan, trapped with nowhere to go, many dying in silence. It is estimated that more than 2 people million have fled the country as refugees, living in deplorable conditions in neighboring countries, lacking even the most basic means of survival. The UN has warned that over 26 million Sudanese are facing acute hunger, with famine already declared in Darfur, where hundreds are dying in displacement camps with no shelter, as the rainy season and increasing flood have exacerbated their suffering beyond description.

We are saddened and appalled by the lack of international attention and action on Sudan. When the war erupted and aid agencies fled, our people were left to fend for themselves amid the brutality. It was the women, youth, civil society in Sudan, and the diaspora who have taken on the challenge of helping our people survive, but it has become nearly impossible due to insecurity and restrictions imposed by both sides. For 16 months, we have been dehumanized, forced to witness our families being slaughtered, trapped, and left to die in silence. Recent attacks in El Jazeera and Sinar States have devastated the lives of hundreds of thousands, with the RSF killing civilians, looting properties, and seizing control of grain warehouses, further exacerbating the suffering of those forced to flee during the heavy rainy season.

The siege and escalated attacks in El Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur, have resulted in some of the deadliest mass atrocities. The severe restrictions on movement, the blockade of medical supplies brought by aid groups, and widespread insecurity, have led to a scarcity of essential services and skyrocketing costs of food, water, and fuel. RSF fighters have burned over forty villages surrounding El Fasher, intentionally crippling the food supply and increasing vulnerability as part of a deliberate tactic to exacerbate civilian suffering. RSF bombardment of all three hospitals and the last two clinics in El Fasher, while patients were still inside, with over 900 patients now left with no medical attention, highlights the severity of the crisis. According to UNICEF, at least seventy-seven hospitals across Sudan have come under attack since the war began, though the true number is likely far higher. These actions are clear violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, and perpetrators must be dealt with accordingly.

The crisis in Sudan is of a global magnitude and requires a global response. As the U.S.-led negotiations on Sudan’s civil war approach on August 14, 2024, the international community must prioritize the urgency facing the Sudanese people rather than prolong negotiations. Both warring parties, led by Sudanese generals, have repeatedly promised a cessation of hostilities but have failed to honor ceasefire agreements since the conflict began. The U.S. and stakeholders in Geneva must use this meeting to bring together the coalition of those willing to collectively intervene and save civilian lives before it is too late. We, therefore, urge you to take the following steps to swiftly end the crisis in Sudan:

1. The U.S. and its allies in Geneva must demand that the warring parties issue a public call on their troops to stop attacks, adhere to immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities, end the siege on El Fasher and all other cities, and generally halt the killing across Sudan.
2. The warring parties must halt all attacks against women and humanitarian workers.
3. The warring parties must agree to women’s participation by no less than 50% in all aspects of the peace process, including ceasefire negotiations, peacekeeping operations, and other processes related to the resolution of the conflict.
4. Call for the immediate deployment of UN-led forces under Chapter VII to protect civilians in conflict zones of Sudan to prevent further atrocities against vulnerable populations.
5. Publicly recognize the use of starvation as a weapon of warfare in Sudan to prevent further loss of life and ensure that unhindered humanitarian aid reaches those in desperate need, particularly in El Fasher, Central Sudan, and Sinar areas.
6. Call on countries that violate the existing sanctions or arms embargoes against Sudan to stop and they must, subsequently, face accountability
   
7. Impose travel bans and other sanctions as punitive measures on parties that refuse to end the violence or allow humanitarian aid.

Thank you for your kind consideration. With Gratitude,

Niemat Ahmadi, DWAG President

For the safety of those involved, the list of the other 100 signatories has been removed.

Today, on World Humanitarian Day, Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) would like to draw attention to the worst humanitarian crises in Sudan and stand in solemn recognition of the courageous efforts of humanitarian workers around the globe, particularly those risking their lives in the conflict zones of Sudan. We wish to take this opportunity to call on the United Nations Security Council to make the protection of civilians and the protection of humanitarian workers in conflict zones, particularly in Sudan, an urgent priority. DWAG would also like to recognize the locally based Sudanese volunteers who have become front-line humanitarian workers without preparation or protection,  fiercely delivering aid and helping their communities survive every day.  Many have been killed, wounded, and prosecuted simply because of their life-saving work and they must be protected.  

 

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is a stark reminder that the international community’s commitment to protecting civilians and providing life-saving assistance must be unwavering. Across Sudan, around 25 million people— over half the country’s population— urgently need humanitarian assistance, with 48% of them being children. For many, humanitarian workers are their last hope. Yet, humanitarian access has been severely compromised by ongoing violence,  targeted attacks on aid workers, and famine that kills every day. The deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war, flooding that obstructs escape routes, and blockades of major supply lines into besieged cities such as El Fasher have escalated the suffering of millions. 

 

The ongoing conflict, now 16 months long, has devastated civilian infrastructure. Over 75% of health facilities in conflict-affected states are non-functional, and since April 2023, 88 attacks on healthcare—including workers, facilities, and ambulances—have resulted in at least 55 deaths and 104 injuries. In Darfur, women flee hundreds of miles seeking safety from sexual violence, parents despair as they struggle to feed their children, and children are forced to leave home to escape indiscriminate shelling amidst intense flooding because even the refugee camps are under attack.

 

In 2023, Sudan became the second most dangerous place in the world for humanitarians, with at least 22 aid workers killed. The situation in Sudan is dire. Humanitarian workers in the region are facing unprecedented challenges as they strive to deliver aid amidst escalating violence and systemic obstruction. Despite these hurdles, they continue to serve those in need with extraordinary courage and dedication, stepping up where the international community has failed. Their efforts are critical, but they cannot replace the need for urgent, decisive action from global leaders to address the root causes of this crisis and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches all those in need. It is our leaders’ duty to uphold international humanitarian laws and serious measures for their protection worldwide— today and every day.

 

DWAG stands firmly by humanitarian workers and the people whose suffering they alleviate. To continue their life-saving work, they need not just our support, but yours as well. It is clear that much more funding is needed for humanitarian assistance. It is also clear that, no matter what, DWAG will continue to raise awareness of the conflict in Sudan and amplify the voices of the afflicted as warring parties try to silence them through killings, rape, starvation, and intimidation.

 

Thanks to our donors and supporters, our DWAG team in Sudan has been able to distribute life-saving emergency relief to refugees arriving in South Sudan. We will continue to deliver assistance where we can to vulnerable people in Darfur. We will not stand back in the face of horrifying death and suffering. The world cannot afford to turn a blind eye— keep your eyes on Sudan!

 

Thank you for your continued support. Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to take action.

 

With Gratitude, 

Niemat Ahmadi, DWAG President

The DWAG Team

The Darfur Women’s Action Group (DWAG) strongly condemns the horrific and indiscriminate attacks that have taken place in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, from Saturday, July 27 to Monday, July 29, 2024. These brutal assaults, carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support

Forces (RSF), have led to the tragic deaths and injuries of at least 97 civilians, targeting essential public infrastructure including hospitals, residential buildings, and places of worship.

 

According to local authorities, the acting Wali (governor) of North Darfur, El Hafiz Bakhit, has described the situation as “a true massacre,” with shells hitting public buildings, hospitals, and mosques. Particularly appalling was the bombardment of the Specialized Hospital for Women and Maternity, which suffered over 10 direct hits, yet remains the only operational hospital in the city. On Monday afternoon, RSF shelling of the Saudi Hospital resulted in the deaths of three

companions of patients, extensive damage to hospital wards, and additional casualties in the nearby Islamic complex, including at least three children. For over eight hours, the citizens of El Fasher endured relentless artillery fire, subsequently leading to the closure of markets and cessation of transportation.

 

The unconscionable violence resulted in the deaths of 97 individuals, including 43 children and 13 women, over three days. This violation of international humanitarian law demands immediate and decisive international action. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, condemned these “indiscriminate” attacks, stressing that civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals and markets, should never be targeted. However, despite international outcry, effective action to safeguard civilians and restore peace remains insufficient.

 

For the past months, El Fasher has been encircled by armed groups with severe restrictions imposed on movement along key roads out of the city, effectively trapping families within the city. At the same time, a severe lack of humanitarian access and an inability to deliver commercial goods due to insecurity have led to a scarcity of essential services and skyrocketing

costs for food, water, and fuel. As such, the shellings in El Fasher pose a major catastrophe, endangering the lives and well-being of about 750,000 children in the city, and potentially millions more.

 

Since the outbreak of conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF in April 2023, Sudan has faced unprecedented levels of displacement and humanitarian distress. Over 10 million people have been displaced, with the healthcare system in critical condition due to 88 documented attacks on medical facilities. Vulnerable populations, particularly children, are suffering from severe malnutrition and lack of access to essential medical care. With over 330,000 people facing acute food insecurity in El Fasher, the situation is dire and compounded by restrictions on movement and a severe lack of humanitarian access.

 

We urge the international community to carry out swift and decisive intervention to prevent further atrocities in Darfur. Every hour without resolute action is another hour of suffering for the Sudanese people. We implore the international community to take the following steps to end the suffering and hold criminals responsible:

• Open unhindered humanitarian aid channels across Sudan to reach all those in need
• Urge U.S. leaders and the international community to lead a robust intervention to protect civilians, and to stop ethnic-based killings throughout Sudan
• Hold the regional enablers of the atrocities accountable, including regional and international actors like the U.A.E that are supplying funds and weaponry to the RSF
• Impose targeted sanctions on individuals, such as freezing assets, imposing travel bans sanctioning all businesses associated with the two warring generals in Sudan, and cutting the funding for weapons
• Pursue accountability for those most responsible for past and current genocide crimes, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed in Sudan
• Provide support for women and civil society from historically marginalized Sudanese in order for their voices to be heard at all levels of the decision-making processes regarding solutions to the current crises

The time for condemnation alone is over; now is the time for concerted and meaningful intervention.

Thank you for your continued support! Stay tuned for more opportunities to take action. With Gratitude,

Niemat Ahmadi, DWAG president

And DWAG team