To Avert Catastrophe in Darfur, Urgent Action Needed Now
Nonviolent Peaceforce sounds the alarm on imminent risks of genocide and mass atrocities as civilians struggle through 2 years of war
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SUDAN, 12 April 2024 — As civilians struggle through two years of war and violence in Sudan, Nonviolent Peaceforce is raising the alarm on an imminent risk of genocide amid ongoing violence in and around El Fasher and Zamzam Camp in North Darfur.
As the war in Sudan nears its two-year anniversary, a critical threat level has emerged once again. Without significant action, there is a high risk of genocide and further atrocity crimes are imminent. Conservatively, an estimated 1.5 million people are now at imminent risk.
“We are deeply concerned about the escalating violence in North Darfur. Civilians are effectively trapped, with few options to keep themselves and others safe from targeted attacks,” warned Shannon Radsky, Head of Mission for Nonviolent Peaceforce in Sudan. “Immediate, decisive action is needed from world leaders in this moment to avert catastrophe.”
Civilians despair the ever-threatening situation around them: “If we leave, we will die on the road where no one knows. We’d rather die in El Fasher where the world is watching and people know about it."
“The need to end the fighting is urgent. That requires global leaders to act now on behalf of civilians in North Darfur, to do all they can to secure an end to hostilities and to hold those responsible for these crimes accountable,” said Ms. Radsky.
“We have seen at critical moments in the course of this conflict how concerted leadership from states, including the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom, has helped to prevent atrocities. We are imploring states, and the UN Security Council, to use all available diplomatic, political, and economic levers to protect civilians and prevent further mass atrocities in Sudan.”
NP is an international protection agency. Our mission is to protect civilians in violent conflicts through unarmed strategies, build peace side-by-side with local communities, and advocate for the wider adoption of these approaches to safeguard human lives and dignity.
Contact
Advocacy: Felicity Gray, Global Head of Policy & Advocacy, [email protected]
Media: Claire Guinta, External Relations Manager, [email protected]
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