UN rights chief issues red alert over atrocity fears in Sudan's el-Obeid

Geneva,UPDATED: Jul 3, 2026 16:16 IST

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has raised a "red alert" over possible atrocity crimes in and around el-Obeid in central Sudan, urging world leaders to act to stop the bloodshed in the country’s war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, Turk said the signs from el-Obeid were "clear and unmistakable: Another human rights catastrophe is unfolding in Sudan". His remarks came during an urgent debate on the situation in the city, amid concerns that civilians could face another wave of atrocities as the war enters its fourth year.

"This is not a drill. It is a red alert that needs to land on the desks of heads of state and government around the world," Turk said. "Their phones should be running hot in the coming days and weeks, with ideas on how to prevent atrocity crimes in el-Obeid and in other places in Kordofan."

Turk said civilians in el-Obeid have faced siege-like conditions for 18 months and have been hit by "relentless drone strikes" as Sudan’s armed forces and the RSF fight for control of areas near the city.

The war began in April 2023 after long-running tensions between the army and the RSF escalated into open conflict. The fighting has killed at least 59,000 people, displaced around 13 million and pushed many parts of Sudan into famine. More than 30 million people now need humanitarian assistance.

In February 2025, the military broke a siege on el-Obeid that had lasted for more than a year. Since then, the RSF has launched several offensives in an attempt to restore the siege from different directions. The UN and some countries have also raised concern over reports of RSF reinforcements around el-Obeid, a city in North Kordofan with a population of about half a million.

Turk’s office has said recent attacks on infrastructure have left civilians facing shortages of food, fuel and water, while also affecting health services and transport. The debate at the Human Rights Council focused on the growing fears over el-Obeid as the wider Sudan conflict continues to deepen the humanitarian crisis.

With PTI Inputs

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