A resolution by the European Parliament condemned in the strongest terms the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sudan, particularly the atrocities being committed during the ongoing siege of the city of El-Obeid in North Kordofan State, calling for the inclusion of the Rapid Support Forces on the list of terrorist organizations.

The parliament adopted the resolution during its plenary session with a majority of 476 votes to 28, while 96 members abstained.

European lawmakers affirmed that the European Union must urgently enhance its humanitarian aid to Sudan and provide direct funding to local organizations operating on the front lines, including those working in the medical sector. They also stressed the urgent need to establish humanitarian corridors to ensure the evacuation of civilians and the delivery of aid.

The parliament members called on the warring parties to stop attacks against civilians, including acts of sexual violence, and to end the famine caused by the conflict.

They condemned any external interventions that contribute to fueling the war, and demanded that states stop all forms of support provided to the Rapid Support Forces, particularly through supplying them with weapons.

The lawmakers called on the European Union to impose sanctions on those responsible for attacks against civilians, as well as on external entities that facilitate these violations, due to their violation of the UN arms embargo.

War crimes

The European Parliament also called for an independent investigation into the alleged war crimes, and for enabling the International Criminal Court to expand its jurisdiction to cover all of Sudan.

The United Nations Human Rights Council held an urgent discussion session on the human rights situation in El-Obeid and its surroundings in the context of the ongoing conflict in Sudan on Monday.

The session came in response to a request submitted by a group of countries including Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

In this context, the United Nations last week reported that Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher held a phone call with the commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (Hemedti).

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that Fletcher discussed with Hemedti the escalation of fighting in Sudan, including in the city of El-Obeid.

Fletcher stressed the need to ensure safe access for humanitarian workers to those in need and to secure the movement of civilians. He also expressed concern about the impact of drone attacks on civilians and the infrastructure they depend on.

Dujarric said that Fletcher has been in contact with a number of key concerned parties in recent days to stress the need to ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, in addition to the protection of civilians.

In West Kordofan, where more than 800 cholera cases have been recorded, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported allocating over $1 million through the Sudan Humanitarian Fund to support water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions, in addition to the health response to the epidemic.

In South Kordofan, the UN confirmed the arrival of a humanitarian aid convoy to Kadugli and Dilling last Thursday, comprising 14 trucks from the World Food Programme loaded with food supplies, three trucks from the World Health Organization carrying approximately 8.5 metric tons of medical supplies, including cholera supplies, and four trucks from Plan International carrying humanitarian supplies.