Jakarta: United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced deep concerns over escalating violence in West Darfur, calling on Sudanese authorities to expend all efforts to end the fighting and protect civilians.
According to media reports, at least 83 people, including women and children, have been killed and more than 160 wounded in inter-communal clashes this weekend.
Moreover, several houses are also said to have been destroyed and about 50,000 people displaced.
"The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about clashes in West Darfur over the weekend. Escalating inter-communal violence has resulted in scores of deaths and injuries, the displacement of nearly 50,000 people and the destruction of property. He expresses his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured," said Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, in a statement on Sunday.
"The Secretary-General calls on the Sudanese authorities to expend all efforts to de-escalate the situation and bring an end to the fighting, restore law and order and ensure the protection of civilians, in accordance with the Government’s National Plan for Civilian Protection," the spokesperson stated.
The violence occurred about two weeks after the African Union-United Nations hybrid peacekeeping mission in the region (UNAMID) ended its operations at the end of 2020.
UNAMID is currently drawing down and the process is expected to complete by the end of June 2021.
The vast Darfur region, roughly the size of Spain, has been plagued by conflict and inter-communal tensions for years.
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