UN human rights chief Volker Turk has sounded the alarm over the escalating war in Sudan and the growing threat of mass starvation. His warning comes after the UN World Food Programme (WFP) decided to temporarily halt food aid distribution at a camp for displaced people in North Darfur due to escalating violence.
Speaking to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Turk described Sudan as a “powder keg” on the brink of further chaos and said the risk of atrocity crimes and widespread famine-related deaths was increasing. He stressed that the situation was at its most dangerous level and the potential for escalation was higher than ever.
Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, power struggles between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have led to the world’s largest displacement and hunger crisis. The UN has reported famine conditions in at least five regions of Sudan, including camps in Darfur.
Turk also noted the RSF’s efforts to establish control over the areas they occupy, which could deepen divisions and prolong hostilities. He stressed that Sudan is continuously receiving sophisticated weapons, further complicating peace efforts.