Five most powerful muslims nations around the world have condemned the extrajudicial killings of civilians committed by paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF) in sudan’s city of el-Fisher.
The Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and Jordan condemnation comes as more evidence emerged of mass killings in the strategic area.
The denunciations on Tuesday came as researchers at Yale University said satellite imagery of el-Fasher, taken after the RSF moved in, shows clusters of objects consistent with the size of human bodies, as well as large areas of red discolouration on the ground.
READ ALSO: Africa Accounts for 40% of Global Armed Conflicts — ICRC
The Sudan armed forces and RSF has been locked in a bloody civil war in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 12 million people.
The paramilitary force overran el-Fasher, the army’s last stronghold in Darfur, on Sunday after 17 months of siege.
The Sudanese government said that at least 2,000 people have been killed in the city since then, while aid agencies say they have received credible reports of atrocities, including summary executions, attacks on civilians along escape routes and house-to-house raids.
Turkiye has called for the immediate cessation of hostilities in el-Fasher, while also urging “safe passage, the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, and an end to attacks on innocent civilians”, according to the Anadolu news agency.
Also, Saudi Arabia, in a statement on Tuesday, expressed “deep concern and condemnation of the grave human rights violations” and called on the RSF to fulfil their responsibility to protect Sudanese civilians.
Egypt, which shares a border with Sudan, called for all “possible measures to be taken to achieve an immediate humanitarian truce across Sudan”, while also reaffirming its continued commitment to “providing all possible support to help” the neighbouring country overcome its current crisis.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said that it is deeply saddened by the killing of five volunteers of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society in Bara, North Kordofan.
The ICRC said humanitarian workers must never be a target.
“Our hearts are with their families, colleagues, and all those they served with compassion and courage,” said ICRC in a post on its verified social media handle X, monitored by GLOBAL TRACKER.
The post reads “We express our deepest sorrow over the killing of five Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) volunteers in Bara, North Kordofan State.
“We received this news with profound shock and outrage, and we condemn in the strongest possible terms this horrific and senseless act of violence.
“Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and colleagues of the volunteers, as well as to the Sudanese Red Crescent Society. We stand with you in solidarity during this painful time and honor the courage and compassion of those who dedicate their lives to helping others.
“We urgently call for full respect of international humanitarian law to protect lives, safeguard those who provide aid, and preserve the very principles of humanity.