Arab League warns of worsening humanitarian, security crisis in El Obeid, Sudan

The Secretary-General of the Arab League has called for intensified international efforts to prevent the Sudanese city of El Obeid from sliding into a wider humanitarian and security catastrophe. He accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of systematically targeting markets, schools, hospitals, and vital water and electricity facilities. The Secretary-General is monitoring with grave concern the dangerous developments unfolding in El Obeid, located in Sudan’s North Kordofan State. He highlighted that over half a million civilians, including tens of thousands of displaced individuals, are enduring a suffocating siege and continuous drone bombardment by the RSF. This shelling has directly hit markets, educational and health institutions, alongside essential water and electricity infrastructure. The Arab League warned that the persistent military buildup and the targeting of residential areas and civilian facilities risk a repetition of atrocities previously witnessed in Al-Fashir. This caution follows repeated international alerts regarding severe violations that could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The League emphasized the necessity of bolstering international and regional efforts to prevent the city’s humanitarian and security situation from worsening, and to halt all actions that prolong the conflict. It also affirmed the critical importance of respecting Sudan's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The General Secretariat of the Arab League reiterated its commitment to supporting endeavors aimed at fostering a comprehensive Sudanese political track and encouraging effective dialogue among all Sudanese forces. This support aims to end the conflict, protect civilians, and alleviate the escalating humanitarian suffering. These efforts, it was noted, align with the framework of the Quintet Mechanism, comprising the Arab League, the African Union, the United Nations, the European Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). In a related context, the United Nations had warned last Friday, during a Human Rights Council session in Geneva, Switzerland, of an imminent humanitarian disaster in El Obeid, urging the Rapid Support Forces to immediately cease their attacks on the city.