Cairo (Egypt), July 6 (LaPresse) – The war in Sudan has caused the death or injury of more than 300 children in the past six months, mostly due to drone strikes, the United Nations children’s agency UNICEF said. The war is now concentrated in the states of Kordofan, Darfur and Blue Nile, with drone warfare accounting for 60% of casualties. Today in Geneva, the United Nations Human Rights Council approved a resolution, presented by five European countries, condemning the escalation of violence by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies in el-Obeid and surrounding areas. The resolution, adopted without a vote, also encourages greater support for countries hosting refugees from Sudan and condemns “any form of external interference” in the conflict. Drone strikes and bombardments have targeted civilian infrastructure, including schools, markets, fuel and water supply stations, putting more than 500,000 people at risk. In some areas, civilians have been living in siege-like conditions for over a year. “Children are trapped in a relentless cycle of violence, displacement and deprivation,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF representative for Sudan. The UN has urged the parties “to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, to allow and facilitate safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access, and to take all possible measures to protect children from harm.”
Sudan, UNICEF: “Over 300 children killed or injured in 6 months of war”
Cairo (Egypt), July 6 (LaPresse) – The war in Sudan has caused the death or injury of more than 300 children in the past six months, mostly due to drone strikes, the United Nations children’s agency UNICEF said. The war is now concentrated in the states of Kordofan, Darfur and Blue Nile, with drone warfare accounting for 60% of casualties. Today in Geneva, the United Nations Human Rights Council approved a resolution, presented by five European countries, condemning the escalation of violence by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies in el-Obeid and surrounding areas. The resolution, adopted without a vote, also encourages greater support for countries hosting refugees from Sudan and condemns “any form of external interference” in the conflict. Drone strikes and bombardments have targeted civilian infrastructure, including schools, markets, fuel and water supply stations, putting more than 500,000 people at risk. In some areas, civilians have been living in siege-like conditions for over a year. “Children are trapped in a relentless cycle of violence, displacement and deprivation,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF representative for Sudan. The UN has urged the parties “to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, to allow and facilitate safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access, and to take all possible measures to protect children from harm.”
