GENEVA: The United Nations (UN) voiced alarm Friday at the prison breaks amid the conflict violence raging in Sudan, where Sudanese war crimes suspects escaped.
The UN also warned that the newly erupted conflict was reigniting ethnic clashes in the region of western Darfur, which had left about 100 dead in a few days.
Ravina Shamdasani, UN rights office spokeswoman, said the UN was deeply alarmed by the prison breaks. It was very worried about the prospect of further violence amid a generalized climate of impunity.
Her statement follows several jailbreaks, including of a tight-security prison holding alleged war criminals, since the violence started across Sudan two weeks ago.
Shamdasani said the world body was concerned the impunity symbolized by the prison breaks is at the root of a lot of what is being thought today.
When impunity for serious violations, it boldened the perpetrators.
At least 512 people have been dead and 4,193 injured in the two weeks of fighting between Sudan’s army commanded by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary RSF led by his deputy-turned-rival, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
UN unable to verify numbers
The United Nations has not yet been able to verify the casualty toll, provided by Sudan’s health ministry, but Shamdasani warned that the numbers “must be a serious underestimate”.
She said that the human rights situation was dramatically deteriorating.
Hundreds of Sudanese have fled their homes, with tens of thousands fleeing into neighbouring states.
But Shamdasani warned that thousands remain besieged in residential areas where war occurs.
She said that people continue to be forced to leave their homes by the RSF and suffer extortion, looting, acute shortages of water, electricity, food, and fuel, limited communication, limited access to healthcare, and limited money due to the closure of banks.
Shamdasani said the world body was concerned at the grave risk of violence escalating in the region of West Darfur, warning that the hostilities between the RSF and military have triggered inter-communal violence
