20 Oct
20Oct

The African Center for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) expresses deep concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis caused by the siege of Elfashir City, the busy capital of North Darfur, by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This critical situation threatens over 346 children, who are at risk of dying from malnutrition and starvation. Immediate intervention from national, regional, and international bodies is essential to protect these vulnerable young lives.  

In this release, ACJPS highlights a concerning situation where at least 346 children across five shelters in El-Fashir, North Darfur, urgently need help, as their health has deteriorated to a critical nutritional stage. These children are in shelters at Yasir Afandi Qurani school (29 children), Eilaf shelter (33 children), South Fresh shelter (35 children), the El-fashir bring us to gather shelter (59 children), Abu Talib shelter (65 children), and Alsalam high school shelter (125 children).  

Since the conflict erupted on April 15, 2023, the failure of the Sudanese conflicting parties to establish a ceasefire has had devastating effects, evident in the increasing number of victims and a rise in various human rights violations. Vulnerable groups, including the elderly, women, and children, are bearing the brunt of this crisis, highlighting the urgent need for compassion and action. 

UNICEF reports that El-Fashir in North Darfur, Sudan, has become a major hub of child suffering, facing severe starvation, mass displacement, and ongoing violence, which have caused devastating consequences after nearly 17 months of siege. About 260,000 civilians, including 130,000 children, have been trapped inside the city since humanitarian aid was halted.

Call to action

We retariate our calls to; 

  • The conflicting parties agree to a ceasefire and facilitate humanitarian aid access for civilians. We also call on the belligerents to halt arbitrary arrests and detention, as these actions violate protections under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Additionally, we urge the release of detainees who are not charged with valid legal charges.
  • The international and regional community, along with organizations like the International Red Cross (IRC) and the World Food Program (WFP), should urgently intervene, prioritizing access to food and medicines for malnutrition, especially among children. 
  • Efforts should be directed towards ensuring safe movement and logistics for civilians to reach secure hubs.
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