The UN has put on notice about the disturbing situation in Darfur, Sudan. According to various sources, an estimated 800,000 civilians located in El Fasher, the regional capital, are believed to be “in an extreme and immediate danger” following the persistence of violence in the area.
This rather disquieting situation is occurring during the twelve-month-long conflict between Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF) as well as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The violence has become the largest refugee catastrophe on the planet and has started the mass exodus of the country.
UN representatives sent a dire warning to the Security Council, describing a situation in which, “El Fasher could draw the region into ‘fierce intercommunal clashes throughout Darfur’ ” declared Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN’s political affairs chief. This concern was pre-empted by the UN Secretary-General, who brought to the fore an opportunity to avoid a “Dangerous blood bath.“
The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is now reaching a critical point. According to the UN statistics, every other person in the country, or around 25 million persons needs support. Furthermore, the civil war is causing about 8 million Sudanese to leave their homes due to displacement.
Mr. Edem Wosornu, the UN aid director pointed out the emergency problems that residents in El Fasher are struggling with. He highlighted dangers to the lives of 800,000 people and the possibility that the conflict might spread against Darfur and large scale of other people needing humanitarian assistance.
The origin of the Darfur conflict has several deep-seated and intertwined problems. Lasting ethnic tensions, competition for limited resources, and a record of political instability are believed to have been the root causes of the violence. The latest conflicts between the SAF and RSF are escalating the existing problems by an increase.
The international community has repeatedly called upon all parties to the conflict, to immediately stop hostilities and start peaceful dialogue. The UN Security Council is of undisputed vital importance in putting the Sudanese government under pressure to ameliorate the deteriorating situation and safeguard civilians.
Humanitarian bodies are doing everything possible to provide assistance to continue to suffer from the conflict. Nevertheless, their mission is constrained by their limited capacities and deteriorating security backgrounds.
