Red Cross Head Warns of Repeating History in Sudan's Darfur Amid Mass Killing Reports

Escalating Crisis in Darfur

• ⚠️ The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warns that history is repeating itself in Sudan's Darfur region following reports of mass killings.
• 🎯 The fall of Alfasia to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) marks the army's last holdout in Darfur, giving the RSF control of over 25% of the country.

Allegations of Atrocities and Humanitarian Concerns

• 🩸 Hundreds of civilians and unarmed fighters may have been killed as the RSF captured Alfasia, with witnesses describing the separation of men and subsequent gunshots.
• 🏥 Tens of thousands have fled, with many more assumed to be trapped in Alfasia without access to urgent food, water, or medical assistance.
• 📉 The majority of Sudan's health system has collapsed, leaving no means to treat the wounded.
• 🏥 The ICRC is extremely concerned about reports of a suspected massacre at the Saudi hospital, the city's last functioning medical facility, though details remain unsubstantiated.

Historical Context and Accusations

• 📜 The RSF has roots in the Janu militias, previously accused of atrocities during the 2000s Darfur genocide.
• ⚖️ The United States has accused the RSF of committing genocide in the Darfur city of Geneina earlier in the war, a claim the group denies.
• 🚫 Rights groups and US officials have also accused the RSF and allied militias of ethnic cleansing.

International Involvement and Calls for Restraint

• 🌍 The United Arab Emirates has been accused of providing substantial military support to the RSF, which it denies.
• 🇪🇬 Sudan's army has foreign backers, including Egypt, and deployed Iranian-made drones.
• 🗣️ The ICRC is calling on the alleged foreign backers of the warring sides to restrain them and ensure the protection of civilian populations.