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The Human Rights Council this afternoon concluded its thirty-sixth special session on the human rights impact of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, adopting a resolution in which it decided that the mandate of the designated Expert of the High Commissioner on human rights in Sudan should, with immediate effect, also include detailed monitoring and documentation of, and reporting to the Human Rights Council on, all allegations of human rights violations and abuses since 25 October 2021, including those arising directly from the current conflict. 

In the resolution on the human rights impact of the ongoing conflict in Sudan (A/HRC/36/L.1) as orally amended, adopted by a vote of 18 in favour, 15 against, and 14 abstentions, the Council, welcoming the appointment by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of Radhouan Nouicer as his designated Expert on human rights in the Sudan on 16 December 2022: expressed its grave concern at the serious outbreak of conflict and escalation of violence in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which could undermine the progress made towards a peaceful transition to democracy and stability in Sudan.  The Council called for an immediate cessation of violence by all parties, without pre-conditions, the rapid establishment of full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, the rehabilitation of critical basic infrastructure, a negotiated and peaceful resolution to the conflict on the basis of inclusive dialogue, and the recommitment of all parties with the people of Sudan to return to its transition towards a civilian-led government.

The Council condemned all reported violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, including reported acts of sexual and gender-based violence, committed since the start of hostilities by all parties to the conflict across the country and called upon the parties to the conflict in Sudan to demonstrate the utmost restraint and to refrain from further violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law.  It also called upon all parties to the conflict to cease any measure that exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, and to rapidly allow and facilitate the full, safe and unhindered passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need.

In the resolution, the Council condemned any attacks on humanitarian and health workers, and on the premises and members of international organizations, civil society organizations and the diplomatic community in Sudan, and urged all parties to the conflict in Sudan to respect and protect civilians, including those who were humanitarian workers and health workers, and civilian infrastructure, and to allow and facilitate full, safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid into and throughout Sudan.

The Council decided that the mandate of the designated Expert of the High Commissioner should, with immediate effect, also include detailed monitoring and documentation of, and reporting to the Human Rights Council on, all allegations of human rights violations and abuses since the 25 October 2021, including those arising directly from the current conflict, as well as a specific focus on prevention of further such violations and abuses from occurring.  The resolution requested the High Commissioner, with the assistance of the designated Expert on human rights in Sudan, to present to the Human Rights Council, at its fifty-fourth and fifty-seventh sessions, an oral update on the human rights situation in Sudan.

The results of the vote were as follows:

In favour (18): Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Czechia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Montenegro, Paraguay, Romania, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States.

Against (15): Algeria, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Gambia, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, and Viet Nam.

Abstention (14): Bangladesh, Benin, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Maldives, Nepal, South Africa, and Uzbekistan.

The Council adopted the report of the special session ad referendum.

The special session started this morning with a statement by Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who strongly condemned this wanton violence, in which both sides had trampled international humanitarian law, notably the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.  He said it was essential that both parties urgently committed to an inclusive political process and to a negotiated peace.  Mr. Türk said the Human Rights Council had called this special session to express its urgent concern for the rights and lives of Sudan's people.  He urged all States with influence in the region to encourage by all possible means the resolution of this crisis.

The fifty-third regular session of the Human Rights Council will be held from 19 June to 14 July 2023. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

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Children fleeing the violence in Sudan are arriving in South Sudan and Egypt showing signs of acute distress and shock with some withdrawn, others angry and some becoming aggressive, said Save the Children.

Since fighting started on 15 April, more than 700,000 people have fled their homes in Sudan which was already facing its worst ever humanitarian crisis due to the collision of conflict, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and economic degradation and one third of the population needing assistance. 

Over the past month, more than 150,000 people have crossed into Egypt, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Chad, according to the UN, with reports of long waits at the crossings, limited food, water and sanitation facilities. 

Save the Children teams are providing mental health and psychosocial support and well as essential supplies to families arriving at border points in South Sudan and Egypt, some of whom have spent up to 15 days on perilous and costly journeys to seek safety. 

At Renk on South Sudan's northeastern border with Sudan, Save the Children is providing food and helping to trace families and reunify children separated from their families. 

Up to 45,000 people are reported to have fled into South Sudan from Sudan, some returnees who had left South Sudan previously to escape conflict. 

Micah Yakani, a Save the Children South Sudan Child and Youth Protection Coordinator, said many children were very stressed when they arrived and warned of an increase in hunger and malnutrition due to food shortages at the crossing point.  

“Children are very stressed This is seen through unusual behaviour such as fighting each other while some are withdrawn and stay alone. Adolescent children are also manifesting violent behaviours such as anger, desperation, talking aggressively. 

“The hot meals being provided at the transit centres are not enough for everyone and many families are going without food. We're also seeing sign of trauma among children as most of the families are staying under the hot sun with no shade or shelter. The few shades we have cannot accommodate everyone. 

“Water shortages are leading to violent commotions between women at the transit center and we fear the situation might get worse as the transit centre is completely full and many families are sheltering by the road side.” 

At least 60,000 people have fled into Egypt from Sudan, with most families reaching Wadi Karkar, a bus station near Aswan in southern Egypt where Save the Children is supporting refugees before they move onto other locations in the country. 

Laila Toema, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Technical Advisor at Save the Children Egypt, said: 

“Families spend two to three hours at the bus stop. During this time, we try to create safe spaces for children to play and organise activities to help parents manage the stress. 

“In the first week, we have provided mental health support to about 127 children and caregivers. The families we meet have often gathered only a few belongings before fleeing. They need nappies, food, water. The wait can last a few hours, it often gets very hot, and most children are tired. Some of them show signs of acute distress, or anxiety. One of the mothers, for example, refused to let her child come off the bus to join our child-friendly space, fearing for her child's safety. 

“We get different reactions from children. Some of them are still in shock, others express anxiety and many parents seem to be in shock and refuse to think of themselves as ‘displaced'.” 

With its partner Egyptian Red Crescent, Save the Children has distributed food parcels to 10,000 people at the border, 1,000 first aid kits and 4,000 hygiene kits containing essential toiletries and sanitation items. They have also distributed 2,000 bags for psychological support activities for children which include games and activities. 

Ahmed Adel, a Save the Children Egypt Mental Health and Psychosocial support Facilitator, said: 

“We hear a lot of stories during these activities, especially from children. For example, they tell us that they associate noise to shootings and explosions that happened near them, when they were in Sudan. 

“A child told me he was anxious because members of his families were not around during these events. He also told me that his sister is a university student, and her friends were shot dead, and that he lost some family members.” 

Save the Children is calling on the international community to commit the funding and resources to prepare for a large-scale response to meet critical needs both in Sudan and in neighbouring countries, including to local and national organisations providing frontline response.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Save the Children.

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UNICEF is stepping up humanitarian support for children on the move affected by the ongoing conflict in Sudan. As violence continues, an estimated 82,000 children have fled to neighbouring countries and approximately 368,000 more are newly displaced inside the country.

According to UNHCR, more than 164,000 people have sought refuge across borders since 15 April, including in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya and South Sudan. In addition, IOM estimates some 736,000 people are newly internally displaced within Sudan since the start of the conflict. Almost 3.8 million people were internally displaced within Sudan prior to the outbreak of violence.

“The brutal conflict in Sudan has exacted a devastating toll on the country's children,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Thousands have experienced deeply traumatic events or been driven from their homes in search of relative safety. Their situation remains precarious, and continued support and assistance from the international community and humanitarian partners are critical.”

Many communities receiving displaced populations are already affected by multiple crises, with basic services and existing humanitarian capacity already overstretched. The rainy season is expected to heighten access challenges and increase the risks of disease. The conflict is also disrupting cross-border trade and movement, leading to a sharp increase in food prices in neighbouring countries, with a higher risk of food insecurity in vulnerable host communities.

In Sudan, UNICEF has provided emergency health kits, essential supplies and medicines to hospitals and primary healthcare centres to support the treatment of the injured and access to life-saving and basic health services. UNICEF is also supporting displaced children and families, striving to ensure the continuity of essential services, including the provision of nutrition supplies to help keep more than 80 per cent of facilities functioning in affected areas. UNICEF interventions will also support the provision of urgent assistance to newly displaced children and families and affected host communities in the states where conflict spread remains limited and with the largest number of internally displaced. This week, a UNICEF shipment of water, sanitation and hygiene supplies landed in Port Sudan, with further shipments scheduled in the days ahead.

UNICEF is also working closely with governments and partner organisations in neighbouring countries to step up essential life-saving services and support to these vulnerable children. This support includes:

• Provision of safe water through water trucking, water treatment, digging and repair of boreholes, sanitation facilities, hygiene items and non-food item (NFI) kits to meet refugees, returnees and host communities' needs.
• Nutrition services for children under five suffering from severe acute malnutrition in health centres and mobile clinics, and the provision of nutrition supplies.
• Provision of health screening referrals, vaccination, essential drugs and medical kits to ensure access to health care and services benefiting both host and refugee populations.
• Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response, including psychosocial support, child-friendly spaces, case management and referral to specialised services, family tracing and reunification, and supporting the case management of unaccompanied and separated children and prevention of childhood statelessness.
• Education services to ensure refugee, returnee and host community children and adolescents can access inclusive, quality education and learning opportunities in safe and protective environments.

UNICEF is calling on the international community to urgently support its efforts by providing additional funding and resources to address the growing crisis. With sustained support, UNICEF aims to reach and assist more children in need and secure their rights to survival, development, and protection.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).