Rights Organizations Call for End to Siege on Dilling and Habila
moatinoon
Human rights organizations have called for an end to the siege on Dilling and Habila in South Kordofan.
In a joint statement issued today, three organizations—Sudan Peace and Security Observatory, Action for Sudanese Women’s Rights, and the International Service for Human Rights—said that the closure of roads between Kadugli and Dilling has obstructed humanitarian aid and restricted the movement of hundreds of thousands of civilians, cutting them off from the outside world for the past 18 months. They noted that Habila, near Dilling, is classified as one of the five areas experiencing famine conditions.
The three organizations added that civilians in these areas are forced to walk for days to reach the nearest healthcare services, as local medical clinics have either shut down or are operating at minimal capacity due to shortages of medical supplies and healthcare workers. The high cost of fuel and transportation, the risk of looting, and fears of inhumane treatment at checkpoints have also prevented people from leaving.
Despite the recent decision by the Sudanese government in Port Sudan to allow humanitarian aid through Kadugli Airport, areas between Kadugli and Dilling, including Dilling itself, remain deprived of any assistance.
The organizations warned that thousands, including women and children, face starvation and death from treatable diseases such as hypertension and fever due to the systematic obstruction of aid for 18 months. Local volunteers reported that in November alone, four women and four children died due to lack of medicine, medical care, and malnutrition.
They urged the warring parties to lift the blockade on roads between Kadugli and Dilling and ensure access to movement and humanitarian aid. The statement also called on the Sudanese government in Port Sudan to extend its decision to open humanitarian corridors to include Dilling and Kadugli, ensuring access to education and healthcare services.
The organizations demanded that the fighting parties cease hostilities, immediately establish safe corridors and zones for humanitarian organizations, and open roads to allow aid to reach civilians while ensuring the safety of humanitarian workers. They also called for an end to attacks on healthcare facilities, medical supplies, and health workers, urging all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and restore telecommunications access.
Furthermore, the statement called on the international community to collaborate with local civil society groups to collect evidence of violations against civilians in the Nuba Mountains, support investigations by the International Criminal Court, and expand its jurisdiction to cover all conflict zones in Sudan following the outbreak of war in April 2023.
The organizations also urged international actors to support the Sudan Fact-Finding Mission and other mechanisms tasked with documenting human rights violations in Sudan by ensuring they have the necessary resources to effectively carry out their work.
