New and horrifying testimony reveals one of the most egregious incidents of the year-long Sudanese civil war: the mass killing of civilians as they tried to flee violence in Darfur last summer.

Witnesses recounted how children were "piled up and shot" by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as they sought to escape El-Geneina, the regional capital, during a wave of violence that claimed thousands of lives.

Together, the 221 witness statements collated by Human Rights Watch offer the latest evidence that the RSF has orchestrated a concerted 12-month campaign of violence against people in West Darfur.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) is urging the United Nations and African Union to swiftly implement an arms embargo on Sudan and deploy a mission with a strong police force to Darfur in order to safeguard civilians. 

According to a report released by HRW on Wednesday, sanctions are sought against those deemed accountable for extensive war crimes, including West Darfur RSF commander Abdel Rahman Joma’a Barakallah, and the commander of the RSF, Mohamed Hemedti Hamdan Dagalo, and his brother Abdel Raheem.

"As the UN security council and governments wake up to looming disaster in El Fasher, the large-scale atrocities committed in El Geneina should be seen as a reminder of the atrocities that could come in the absence of concerted action," explained Tirana Hassan, the executive director at Human Rights Watch.

UNICEF calls for urgent action to protect Sudan children in Darfur

The United Nations children's agency UNICEF issued an urgent appeal for action earlier in May to protect children amid escalating violence in Sudan's North Darfur region.

Expressing profound concern, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell highlighted the intensifying violence in North Darfur, particularly in and around el-Fasher city.

Russell emphasized in a statement the critical need for a ceasefire, stressing the urgency of halting the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

She underscored the devastating impact of the ongoing fighting on Sudanese children, citing "deeply concerning reports of children being separated from their families or reportedly going missing." Of particular concern was the dire situation facing children in el-Fasher, where a significant military attack on the region, currently a focal point for humanitarian aid, loomed large.

The UNICEF official highlighted that the city shelters at least 500,000 people displaced by the fighting, warning that the well-being of approximately 750,000 children is in danger due to the current circumstances.

She urged immediate action to prevent further loss of life, particularly among children and called on all warring parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and to ensure the safe passage of those seeking refuge in safer areas.

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