UN Rights Council to Debate el-Obeid Crisis as 500,000 Face Atrocity Risk
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 3
UN Rights Council to Debate el-Obeid Crisis as 500,000 Face Atrocity Risk
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 3
Summary
Friday’s urgent UN Human Rights Council debate was requested after warnings that about 500,000 civilians in Sudan’s el-Obeid could face large-scale atrocities as RSF forces tighten their siege.
RSF reinforcements have massed roughly 60 km east, south and west of the city, while drone strikes on civilian areas and service sites have raised fears el-Obeid could mirror el-Fasher’s mass killings.
At least 16 civilian and service targets — including hospitals, schools, power stations and fuel depots — have been damaged, with food prices up as much as 300% and water and الكهرباء services crippled.
El-Obeid’s strategic role as the main gateway between Khartoum and Darfur, plus its army base, airbase and pipeline, has made it a pivotal prize in Sudan’s war.
A coalition of 46 NGOs is demanding an unconditional humanitarian truce, but diplomacy remains stalled as Sudan’s foreign ministry disputes claims it rejected a US peace proposal.
With drones creating a 'new circle of hell,' how can vital aid possibly reach millions starving in Sudan?
As foreign powers fuel Sudan's war, what prevents a global response to stop the looming genocide?
Why are commanders accused of atrocities in Sudan being offered amnesty instead of facing international justice?
El-Obeid Under Siege: 500,000 Civilians at Risk Amid Sudan’s Worsening War, Foreign Meddling, and Looming Famine
Overview
El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, is facing a severe crisis as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have encircled the city and launched relentless drone strikes, destroying critical infrastructure and pushing basic services to the brink of collapse. This siege has triggered mass displacement, with families fleeing faster than aid can reach them, and left up to 500,000 civilians at extreme risk of atrocities. The situation mirrors previous tragedies in Sudan, such as the fall of El-Fasher, and is fueled by external support—especially from the United Arab Emirates—which continues to arm and finance the RSF, deepening the humanitarian catastrophe and complicating efforts for peace and accountability.