Summary:

• The UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan expresses horror over an attack on an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) convoy in Khartoum, condemning the incident that claimed two lives and injured seven, urging all parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure safe evacuation of civilians amidst ongoing deadly clashes.

KHARTOUM, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) — The UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan on Monday said she was horrified by the reported attack on an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) convoy in the capital Khartoum.

Clementine Nkweta-Salami said “I am horrified by this reckless attack on an ICRC convoy, which tragically claimed the lives of two people and injured seven more, including three from ICRC.”

“The convoy was clearly marked with the Red Cross emblem – a universal symbol for neutrality and protection,” she stressed, adding “my thoughts are with the families and colleagues affected.”

She urged the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and all parties to Sudan’s conflict to respect the principles of international humanitarian law, immediately halt attacks on civilian infrastructure and medical facilities, and allow unrestricted humanitarian access.

“It is incumbent upon the parties engaged in conflict to ensure the safe evacuation of civilians from areas of active combat. This entails an obligation to provide and facilitate unimpeded passage for those seeking to leave conflict zones” she added.

On Sunday, the SAF said in a statement an ICRC convoy came under fire while evacuating civilians in Khartoum, with several ICRC representatives injured.

The humanitarian convoy, including three ICRC vehicles and three buses, was due to evacuate over a hundred vulnerable civilians from Khartoum to Wad Madani when it came under attack upon entering the evacuation area, the statement said.

The SAF expressed regret over the incident, saying the fire occurred after the ICRC convoy “violated an agreement with the Sudanese army by approaching our defensive positions accompanied by an armed vehicle belonging to the rebels.”

The RSF, for its part, accused the SAF on Sunday in a statement of attacking the ICRC convoy.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the SAF and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15.

More than 12,000 people have been killed so far in the clashes, while 6.6 million others have been displaced inside and outside Sudan, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. ■