Darfur Victims Support Organization
Report on Ongoing Violations against Displaced Persons and Refugees in Darfur in October 2024
Date: November 6, 2024
Since the outbreak of armed conflict in Sudan on April 15, 2023, civilians, especially the displaced persons and refugees in Darfur, have been subjected to grave, systematic, and escalating human rights abuses by armed militias. October 2024 witnessed a marked increase in the frequency and severity of these violations, affecting various groups, including women, children, and youth, in the absence of any real protection. This report highlights specific incidents of these violations to draw international attention to the plight of these victims and to call for serious international intervention.
Documented Violations in October 2024:
1. Abduction of Children from Displacement Camps: The abduction of children from displacement areas has intensified. For instance, on September 27, 2024, armed men abducted 14-year-old Al-Noor Ahmed Al-Noor from the Kalma Camp. This targeting of the younger generation reflects an attempt to assert control over the displaced population and spread fear among them.
2. Ongoing Assaults on Women: On October 21, 2024, three displaced women were subjected to a group sexual assault in the Um Darisai camp, southwest of Shangil Tobaya, by an armed group. This continuous violation of women’s rights highlights the brutal exploitation and lack of security in conflict zones.
3. Deliberate Killing and Execution of Civilians: Early November witnessed incidents of civilians being assassinated in cold blood. On November 3, 2024, 20-year-old displaced person Ahmed Ibrahim Khamis was shot in the Delij area, where he died following a direct attack by armed men. Such killings have become common, contributing to the daily suffering of displaced persons in Darfur.
4. Targeting of Farmers and Attacks on Property: On November 3, 2024, a group of farmers was subjected to an armed attack in the Kambo Sando Gerdoud area, injuring several, including Abdulrahman Osman Nour Mansour, Abduljabbar Osman Abdulmawli Daldoum, and a young child named Mohammed Abdulrahman Osman. In addition to injuring the farmers, their property was looted, a tactic evidently aimed at starving them and preventing further cultivation efforts.
5. Interruption of Essential Services to Displacement Camps: On October 22, 2024, the Rapid Support Forces and local authorities halted all internet networks in the Shangil Tobaya camps, causing the complete isolation of the displaced from the outside world and cutting off access to remittances from family members abroad. The forces imposed high fines on anyone attempting to reactivate the networks, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian conditions in the camps.
Recommendations and Demands:
In light of these ongoing violations, the Darfur Victims Organization calls for the following:
1. Protection of Civilians: Immediate international intervention is necessary to pressure armed groups to halt attacks on displaced persons and ensure their safety.
2. Accountability for Perpetrators: These violations must be documented, and perpetrators pursued by international judicial organizations to ensure accountability.
3. Support for Relief and Provision of Aid: Safe corridors must be established to deliver humanitarian aid directly to those in need without interference from armed forces.
4. Restoration of Essential Services: We demand the reinstatement of communication networks in displacement camps to enable displaced persons to maintain contact with their families and receive financial assistance to alleviate their suffering.
The displaced persons in Darfur continue to endure boundless suffering due to multifaceted violations, ranging from physical assaults to economic and social marginalization. We, at the Darfur Victims Organization, urgently call for immediate international action to hold perpetrators accountable, provide effective protection for civilians, and work to alleviate the humanitarian crisis that has become an everyday reality in Darfur.