The victims, who included members of the Masalit ethnic community, were reportedly killed last month by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and associated militias, according to the UN Human Rights Office. OHCHR, calledciting credible information.
Local people were forced to dispose of the bodies in a mass grave outside the regional capital, El-Geneina, denying those killed a decent burial in one of the city’s cemeteries.
Mr. Türk strongly condemned the killings and called for those responsible to be held accountable.
killed women and children
The RSF and the Sudanese army have been engaged in bitter fighting since mid-April. Thousands have been killed and injured, and almost three million people are displaced both inside and outside the country.
At least 37 of the bodies were buried on June 20 in the mass grave about a meter deep in an open area known as Al-Turab Al Ahmar, which means “Red Soil”.
Another 50 bodies were buried there the following day, including those of seven women and seven children.
According to credible information collected by OHCHR, between June 13 and 21, those buried in Al-Madaress and Al-Jamarek districts of El-Geneina were killed by the RSF and its allied militias.
Many were victims of the violence that followed the assassination of West Darfur Governor Khamis Abbaker on 14 June shortly after he was taken into custody by the RSF. Others had died from untreated injuries.
disrespect for the dead
The UN human rights chief said he was “appalled at the callous and disrespectful way the dead, their families and communities were treated.”
“The killings must be promptly, thoroughly and independently investigated and those responsible held accountable,” he said.
Mr. Türk called on the RSF and other parties to the conflict to allow and facilitate the search for the dead, their collection and evacuation in accordance with international law and regardless of ethnicity or other differences.
Dead bodies lie on the street
OHCHR said witnesses reported that local mediation efforts to access the dead and bury them generally took too long, with many bodies lying on the streets for days.
According to reports, the family of a Masalite dignitary killed on or about June 9 by the RSF and their allies had to wait 13 days before being allowed to collect the body.
Witnesses told staff that in cases where the RSF had allowed the dead to be collected after mediation with Arab and other community leaders, the RSF had refused to take the injured to hospitals for medical treatment.
Make sure injured people are treated
“The leadership of the RSF and its allied militias, as well as all parties to an armed conflict, have an obligation to ensure that the dead are treated properly and their dignity protected,” Türk said.
In addition, international humanitarian law and international human rights law oblige all warring parties to ensure that the injured receive medical care.
The High Commissioner immediately and unequivocally called on the RSF leadership to condemn and stop the killing of people and to end ethnic violence and hate speech.
