Humanitarian corridors after the killing of 56 civilians in Sudan, and international demands for an immediate end to the fighting

April 17, 2023

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Humanitarian corridors after the killing of 56 civilians in Sudan, and international demands for an immediate end to the fighting 56 civilians were killed within 24 hours in the confrontations between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, which continued Sunday for the second day in Khartoum, while three workers of the World Food Program were killed in the Darfur region, and it was agreed on a United Nations proposal to open "safe paths for humanitarian cases." 56 civilians were killed within 24 hours in the clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, which continued Sunday for the second day in Khartoum, while three workers of the World Food Program were killed in the Darfur region, according to the United Nations. According to the Central Committee of Doctors of Sudan, "the total number of civilian deaths reached 56," more than half of them in Khartoum and its suburbs, while "dozens" of soldiers and paramilitary forces were killed. In addition, about 600 people were injured. A statement issued by the office of the United Nations Special Representative for Sudan, Volker Perthes, "strongly condemned the attack on United Nations personnel and facilities of humanitarian organizations in Darfur." The statement said: "The three UN staff were killed in clashes that took place in Kabkabiya, North Darfur, in the course of their duties." The statement confirmed that the World Food Program decided to suspend its work in Sudan due to the current situation. On Sunday afternoon, the army and the Rapid Support Forces announced in separate statements that they had agreed on a United Nations proposal to open "safe paths for humanitarian cases" for a period of three hours. The army statement indicated that these lanes will be opened for three hours, starting at 4:00 pm (14:00 GMT) on Sunday. The African Peace and Security Council and the League of Arab States held two emergency meetings on Sunday regarding Sudan. The head of the African Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, decided to go "immediately" to Sudan, according to an official statement, "to talk to the two parties about the ceasefire." As for the Arab League meeting, which was held at the request of Cairo and Riyadh, two main allies of the Sudanese army, the Chargé d'Affairs of the Sudanese Embassy to Egypt, Al-Sadiq Omar Abdullah, confirmed that "what is happening in Sudan is an internal matter, but the efforts of brotherly Arab countries are required to help calm the situation in the country." . He continued, "We ask this meeting to confirm this matter and recommend that the matter be left to the Sudanese to complete the settlement between them, away from international interference." The international community's calls to stop the fighting have multiplied, the latest of which was issued by China on Sunday. The tension between the army commander, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the leader of the Rapid Support Forces, Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo, known as "Hamedti", turned into violent confrontations on Saturday, after an escalation in political disputes in recent weeks. All kinds of weapons, including rifles, artillery, and combat aircraft, are used in these battles in the capital and a number of other cities in the country, which has a population of 45 million and is among the poorest countries in the world. On Sunday, the sound of bombing could be heard in the deserted streets of Khartoum, which smelled strongly of gunpowder. And on social networks, doctors do not stop asking for help, safe passages for ambulances, and a cease-fire to treat the injured. On Saturday evening, the army announced on Facebook that "the Sudanese Air Force will conduct a complete survey of the areas of the rebel Rapid Support militia," explaining that it is asking "citizens to stay at home and not go out." Eyewitnesses reported heavy gun battles between the army and paramilitary forces in the northern suburbs of the capital, as well as in southern Khartoum. Artillery Also, eyewitnesses spoke of artillery shelling in Kassala, on the eastern coast. The Rapid Support Forces, which includes thousands of former fighters in the Darfur war who turned into a auxiliary force for the army, stated that it controls the presidential headquarters, Khartoum airport and other basic infrastructure. While the army denies its control of the airport, it admitted that the RSF burned "two civilian planes, including one belonging to Saudi Airlines." As for the state television, which broadcasts patriotic songs without any comment on the events, as happened during the coup, both sides assert that it has taken over. In the surrounding areas, residents reported continued fighting. And because the war between the two generals is also media, Hamidati spoke on Saturday through the channels of a number of Gulf countries, doubling the threats against his opponent, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, who has not yet appeared. Hamidti continued his demand for the departure of "Al-Burhan", while the army published, on its Facebook account, a warrant for the arrest of Hamidti. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres requested an "immediate cessation of violence," in contacts he had with Burhan and Daglo as well as with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. For his part, Pope Francis affirmed that he "follows with concern the events in Sudan and I call for prayer for the abandonment of weapons and for dialogue to prevail to resume the path of peace."

56 civilians were killed within 24 hours in the confrontations between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, which continued Sunday for the second day in Khartoum, while three workers of the World Food Program were killed in the Darfur region, and it was agreed on a United Nations proposal to open "safe paths for humanitarian cases."

56 civilians were killed within 24 hours in the clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, which continued Sunday for the second day in Khartoum, while three workers of the World Food Program were killed in the Darfur region, according to the United Nations.

According to the Central Committee of Doctors of Sudan, "the total number of civilian deaths reached 56," more than half of them in Khartoum and its suburbs, while "dozens" of soldiers and paramilitary forces were killed. In addition, about 600 people were injured.

A statement issued by the office of the United Nations Special Representative for Sudan, Volker Perthes, "strongly condemned the attack on United Nations personnel and facilities of humanitarian organizations in Darfur." The statement said: "The three UN staff were killed in clashes that took place in Kabkabiya, North Darfur, in the course of their duties." The statement confirmed that the World Food Program decided to suspend its work in Sudan due to the current situation.

On Sunday afternoon, the army and the Rapid Support Forces announced in separate statements that they had agreed on a United Nations proposal to open "safe paths for humanitarian cases" for a period of three hours. The army statement indicated that these lanes will be opened for three hours, starting at 4:00 pm (14:00 GMT) on Sunday.

The African Peace and Security Council and the League of Arab States held two emergency meetings on Sunday regarding Sudan. The head of the African Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, decided to go "immediately" to Sudan, according to an official statement, "to talk to the two parties about the ceasefire."

As for the Arab League meeting, which was held at the request of Cairo and Riyadh, two main allies of the Sudanese army, the Chargé d'Affairs of the Sudanese Embassy to Egypt, Al-Sadiq Omar Abdullah, confirmed that "what is happening in Sudan is an internal matter, but the efforts of brotherly Arab countries are required to help calm the situation in the country." .

He continued, "We ask this meeting to confirm this matter and recommend that the matter be left to the Sudanese to complete the settlement between them, away from international interference."

The international community's calls to stop the fighting have multiplied, the latest of which was issued by China on Sunday.

The tension between the army commander, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the leader of the Rapid Support Forces, Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo, known as "Hamedti", turned into violent confrontations on Saturday, after an escalation in political disputes in recent weeks.

All kinds of weapons, including rifles, artillery, and combat aircraft, are used in these battles in the capital and a number of other cities in the country, which has a population of 45 million and is among the poorest countries in the world.

On Sunday, the sound of bombing could be heard in the deserted streets of Khartoum, which smelled strongly of gunpowder. And on social networks, doctors do not stop asking for help, safe passages for ambulances, and a cease-fire to treat the injured.

On Saturday evening, the army announced on Facebook that "the Sudanese Air Force will conduct a complete survey of the areas of the rebel Rapid Support militia," explaining that it is asking "citizens to stay at home and not go out."

Eyewitnesses reported heavy gun battles between the army and paramilitary forces in the northern suburbs of the capital, as well as in southern Khartoum.

Artillery

Also, eyewitnesses spoke of artillery shelling in Kassala, on the eastern coast.

The Rapid Support Forces, which includes thousands of former fighters in the Darfur war who turned into a auxiliary force for the army, stated that it controls the presidential headquarters, Khartoum airport and other basic infrastructure. While the army denies its control of the airport, it admitted that the RSF burned "two civilian planes, including one belonging to Saudi Airlines."

As for the state television, which broadcasts patriotic songs without any comment on the events, as happened during the coup, both sides assert that it has taken over. In the surrounding areas, residents reported continued fighting.

And because the war between the two generals is also media, Hamidati spoke on Saturday through the channels of a number of Gulf countries, doubling the threats against his opponent, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, who has not yet appeared.

Hamidti continued his demand for the departure of "Al-Burhan", while the army published, on its Facebook account, a warrant for the arrest of Hamidti.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres requested an "immediate cessation of violence," in contacts he had with Burhan and Daglo as well as with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

For his part, Pope Francis affirmed that he "follows with concern the events in Sudan and I call for prayer for the abandonment of weapons and for dialogue to prevail to resume the path of peace."