<\/p>\n
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker T\u00fcrk raised alarm over reports of a build-up of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied troops around the city, alongside intensified drone strikes and artillery shelling. \u201cThe imminent offensive against El Obeid risks commission of serious international crimes,\u201d T\u00fcrk said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
T\u00fcrk warned that the situation mirrors previous atrocities in other parts of Sudan. \u201cWe have seen this playbook before we cannot allow the repeat of the preventable atrocities,\u201d T\u00fcrk said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and RSF, triggering one of the world\u2019s worst humanitarian crises.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the war has displaced more than 13 million people, with millions more pushed toward famine.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres, through a statement issued by his Spokesperson, also expressed concern about an \u201cimminent ground offensive\u201d. \u201cFar too many times in this conflict, clear warnings have failed to trigger concerted action by the international community,\u201d Guterres said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Guterres urged urgent diplomatic intervention to prevent escalation. \u201cThe Secretary-General urges all those with influence to exert it to prevent further bloodshed,\u201d Guterres said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Recent weeks have seen dozens of drone strikes targeting key infrastructure in El Obeid, including fuel depots and transport routes, killing civilians and disrupting access to essential services.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
T\u00fcrk said the civilian population, already under siege-like conditions for more than 18 months, is at increased risk. \u201cThe States with influence have the duty to exercise it now to stop this madness,\u201d T\u00fcrk said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The UN also stressed the importance of protecting humanitarian operations, as El Obeid serves as a key hub for aid delivery across the Kordofan region.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Guterres warned that aid efforts must not be disrupted. \u201cHumanitarian workers and supplies must be able to move safely; humanitarian operations must be protected,\u201d Guterres said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Officials say the situation remains volatile, with fears that further escalation could deepen Sudan\u2019s crisis and increase civilian suffering.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
T\u00fcrk issued a stark warning on accountability. \u201cThe world is watching, and those responsible for violations must be held accountable,\u201d T\u00fcrk said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
–UN\/ChannelAfrica–<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":37535,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"news-type":[26],"class_list":["post-37534","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-general_news","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"The United Nations (UN) has warned that a looming offensive on El Obeid could trigger serious international crimes and worsen Sudan\u2019s humanitarian crisis.","published_date":"","news_description":"The United Nations (UN) has warned that a looming offensive on El Obeid could trigger serious international crimes and worsen Sudan\u2019s humanitarian crisis.","form_embed":"","author":"","image_caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/37534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/37534\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37536,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/37534\/revisions\/37536"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=37534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}