United nations: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his shock at reports that dozens of children and other civilians have been killed in the recent attacks in South Kordofan, Sudan. He condemned all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, noting that targeting schools and hospitals may constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.
According to Qatar News Agency, in a statement, Guterres stressed the necessity for all parties to the conflict in Sudan to respect and protect civilians, allow humanitarian relief, including medical care, to reach those in need, and facilitate its rapid and unimpeded passage. The humanitarian crisis in South Kordofan continues to worsen, with life-saving supplies running low and famine conditions confirmed in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan state, Guterres warned.
He emphasized the urgent need to prevent a recurrence of the human rights violations reported in Al-Fashir in recent months, as well as reports of breaches of international humanitarian law in Kordofan. Guterres further called on all countries with influence over the parties to the conflict to take immediate action, urging them to use their leverage to stop hostilities, halt the flow of weapons that fuels the fighting, and ensure that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, in all conflict-affected areas of Sudan, including Kordofan and Darfur.
He renewed his call for the parties to agree to an immediate cessation of hostilities and to resume talks to reach a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire and an inclusive political process under Sudanese ownership. Guterres affirmed the United Nations' readiness to support any genuine steps toward ending the fighting in Sudan and charting a path to lasting peace. Meanwhile, the Sudanese Armed Forces continue to clash with Rapid Support Forces across Darfur and Kordofan, with no indications of a peaceful resolution to the crisis, which is now entering its third year.