UN Human Rights Chief Issues Red Alert for El Obeid, Sudan

Kathmandu. United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has issued a "red alert" on Friday due to the spreading "destruction" and outbreak in Sudan's El Obeid city.

Addressing the debate of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Turk urged world leaders to help stop atrocities in the city.

Based on signals from El Obeid, it has been confirmed that another human rights atrocity is clearly happening in Sudan.

Civilians have been subjected to siege for 18 months as the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces fight for control in areas around the city.

The UN's top body was holding a rare debate on the human rights situation around El Obeid at the request of the United Kingdom on behalf of a group of affected nations.

In April 2023, fighting began in Sudan between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Kordofan-oil reserves and RSF's most powerful paramilitary allies have become the main battlefield.

El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, is located on the main route connecting RSF-controlled areas in West Darfur region with army-controlled areas in the east.

El Obeid, a city of millions sheltering about one hundred thousand refugees displaced by the civil war, has recently faced intense RSF attacks.

After breaking the long siege in February last year, the army has been struggling to prevent the RSF from re-blockading the city and the main highway in and out by launching drone attacks.

Recent attacks have hit the main power station and fuel depots, plunging neighbors into darkness and shutting down water pumps.