A cohort of independent UN experts has issued a call for the international community to take immediate action in response to escalating human rights violations in the Zamzam and Abu Shuk refugee camps in North Darfur, Sudan. The situation arises as a consequence of recent hostilities between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). As detailed by the UN experts, severe incidents such as shelling and attacks on civilian infrastructure have compounded the humanitarian crisis, leading to the displacement of over 332,000 civilians from the Zamzam camp alone.
The collective of UN Special Rapporteurs has emphasized the urgent need for international intervention, which includes the setting up of humanitarian corridors and enhanced protections for women and children. Furthermore, they have advocated for the creation of accountability mechanisms involving both independent investigations and legal proceedings at national and international levels. The experts stress the need for decisive action from the global community to ensure justice and protection for those most affected by these ongoing conflicts.
This appeal follows prior calls by the UN to cease hostilities that have led to the internal displacement of over 10.7 million individuals—marking the highest level of internally displaced persons (IDPs) globally. Allegations against both the RSF and SAF include violations of international humanitarian law, as they continue to cause extensive suffering amidst the Sudan conflict.
According to the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, IDPs are defined as individuals or groups compelled to flee their homes to avoid armed conflict, generalized violence, or human rights abuses, yet remain within their country’s borders. Under the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention and its 1977 Additional Protocols I and II, all parties involved in the conflict must refrain from displacing civilians forcibly and are obligated to facilitate their safe and voluntary return.
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