New York - Darfur: Europe and the Arabs
The United Nations is currently verifying credible reports it has received of widespread violence against members of the Masalit community in Darfur, especially in the El Geneina area. According to what was stated in the United Nations daily news bulletin, a copy of which we received on Wednesday morning
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the violence was reported to have been allegedly committed by Arab militia groups with the possible complicity of the Rapid Support Forces between 4 and 6 November.
He added, in his daily press conference, that these actions included “the targeted killing of Masalit men and women, inhuman and degrading treatment, and the forced expulsion of Masalit communities who had previously sought safety within the Ardamta neighborhood in El Geneina and the surrounding areas.”
Dujarric also referred to reports that “members of the Masalit militia targeted some members of the Arab community in El Geneina.”
He stressed that these developments "unfortunately indicate the escalation of ethnic tensions and tribal conflicts in Sudan."
The United Nations spokesman urged all parties to the conflict to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law and fulfill their duty to protect all civilians in areas under their control. “This includes implementing the Declaration of Commitment to Protect Sudanese Civilians, signed on May 11 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Commenting on these developments, the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Nderitu, said that it is necessary for the world to pay attention and respond to these events, “and that Sudan does not become a forgotten crisis.”
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced that relief agencies are working to expand the response to the cholera outbreak in a number of Sudanese states and support the detection and treatment of cases, noting that vaccination campaigns are expected to begin by the end of this month.
The health authorities in Sudan announced a cholera outbreak in Gedaref on September 26.
At least 2,525 suspected cases of acute watery diarrhea/cholera, including 78 associated deaths, were reported in 27 localities in Gedaref, South Kordofan, Kassala, Khartoum, Gezira and Sinnar states.
It is estimated that more than 3.1 million people are at risk of acute watery diarrhea and cholera in eight states. Surveillance continues in the affected and high-risk areas with the aim of identifying and treating risk factors.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs indicated that the UN agencies and their partners approved the request of the Federal Ministry of Health to provide more than 2.9 million doses of oral cholera vaccines for interactive vaccination campaigns in nine localities in Gedaref, and Gezira and Khartoum states.

The security situation hinders humanitarian access
In turn, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that the continuation of the conflict in Sudan for the seventh month has caused strain on the health system, noting that the World Health Organization is coordinating with partners in the humanitarian field to establish mobile clinics, enhance monitoring, and distribute medicines and basic supplies.
However, the difficult security situation as well as bureaucratic and administrative obstacles hinder access to those in need, Dr. Tedros said. He appealed to the international community to focus its attention on Sudan and its urgent needs.
He said in a tweet on the X website (formerly Twitter) that the escalation of violence in Darfur is forcing more people to flee to the neighboring country of Chad, which he said adds a burden to an already fragile state.