Emergency Lawyers condemn SAF attacks on civilians in Al Zurruq and Ghurair, North Darfur

On Monday, the Emergency Lawyers rights group condemned the bombing of Al-ZurruqHospital in North Darfur state carried out by the Sudanese Armed Forces’ drones on Saturday morning. The attack, which completely destroyed the hospital, claimed the lives of dozens of civilians and injured dozens more, was -in addition- described as a serious and direct violation of the International Humanitarian Law, for the latter prohibits targeting medical facilities and guarantees their protection. 

In a statement issued Monday, the Emergency Lawyers condemned the drone attack on the market in Ghurair village, North Darfur state, which reportedly took place on the same day. The aforementioned attack sparked a massive fire that engulfed the market, resulting in significant losses of civilian property and livelihoods, in addition to invoking a state of panic and fear amongst the residents. 

The statement emphasized that there were no military targets at the two locations, adding: “The hospital and market are civilian sites, which naturally pose no military threat or necessity whatsoever. Therefore, the aforementioned attacks can only be interpreted as a direct act of targeting innocent civilians and a deliberate infliction of grave harm on their lives and safety, amidst the ongoing lack of basic services’ provision and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan.” 

Furthermore, the statement continued: “Targeting hospitals, markets, and civilian objects constitutes a full-fledged war crime. Hence, the Emergency Lawyers rights group holds the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) fully responsible for these attacks, which reflect a blatant disregard for civilian life and the principles of International humanitarian Law, in addition, it inly serves to exacerbate the suffering of the people amidst the observed lack of basic services and the worsening humanitarian crisis.” 

The Emergency Lawyers statement concluded by sharing that: “All parties ought to put forth efforts to immediately halt drone attacks and adopt urgent measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure -given the escalating violations and ongoing threats to their lives and safety, and to safeguard fundamental human rights.”