Dozens of countries have called on Monday for the United Nations Human Rights Council to hold a special session on Sudan following a crackdown on mass gatherings after a military coup, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The request was sent to the Council’s president, representing 18 member states, more than the one-third required to convene a special session of the Council headquartered in Geneva. The decision was supported by 30 countries with “observer” status in the Council, including the United States.
British Ambassador Simon Manley wrote in a letter to the Council on behalf of 48 countries, including 18 Council members: “There is a need for a special session due to the importance of the situation.”
Since April 15 last year, Sudan has been experiencing a bloody war between the regular armed forces led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the “Rapid Support Forces” led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, causing a deep humanitarian crisis.
More than 8.8 million people have fled their homes since mid-April 2023. Access to food remains the top priority for the displaced, followed by healthcare services, water, and sanitation facilities, particularly in the Darfur and Kordofan regions.
The war has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands, including up to 15,000 people in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state, according to UN experts. However, the exact death toll remains unclear, with some estimates suggesting it reaches “150,000,” according to the U.S. special envoy to Sudan, Tom Periello.
Additionally, Sudan has recorded nearly ten million internally and externally displaced persons since the outbreak of the battles, according to UN statistics. The country’s infrastructure has been largely destroyed, leaving its population threatened with famine
