Khartoum – New York: Europe and the Arab World

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his shock at reports of the deaths of dozens of children and other civilians in recent deadly attacks in South Kordofan. He condemned all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, noting that targeting schools and hospitals could constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, the Secretary-General stressed the need for all parties in Sudan to respect and protect civilians, allow humanitarian access – including medical care – to civilians in need, and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid. This was reported in the UN News bulletin on Monday.

Reports indicated that at least three separate airstrikes hit the town of Kalogi on December 4. Two of the strikes hit a kindergarten, and a third struck a hospital where wounded people were being treated.

On the same day, in North Kordofan, an airstrike hit a humanitarian convoy transporting food aid to North Darfur, damaging a World Food Programme truck and seriously injuring the driver. The Secretary-General condemned this latest attack on humanitarian operations at a time of dire need, noting that the humanitarian crisis in Kordofan continues to worsen as life-saving supplies dwindle, with famine confirmed in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan State.

As fighting intensifies, the Secretary-General stressed the need to prevent a repeat of the horrific human rights abuses and violations reported in El Fasher in recent months, as well as reports of serious violations of international humanitarian law, in Kordofan.

Call to halt arms flow

The Secretary-General called on all States with influence over the parties to take immediate action and use their influence to compel them to cease fighting immediately and to halt the flow of weapons that is fueling the conflict. Guterres called on all parties to comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, in all areas of conflict in Sudan – including the Kordofan and Darfur regions.

The UN Secretary-General reiterated his call for the parties to agree to an immediate cessation of hostilities and to resume talks to achieve a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive, inclusive, Sudanese-owned political process. He affirmed the UN’s readiness to support any genuine steps to end the fighting in Sudan and pave the way for lasting peace.