“We are deeply alarmed by increasing reports of serious violations against civilians,” Haq said, citing accounts of “executions, sexual violence, humiliation, extortion and attacks” following the capture of El Fasher, the state capital, by the Rapid Support Forces militia last week.
According to the United Nations migration agency, IOM, nearly 82,000 people fled El Fasher and surrounding areas since October 26many are heading towards Tawila, which is already home to hundreds of thousands of people displaced by previous fighting.
The United Nations agency for reproductive rights, UNFPAwarned that women and girls had suffered rape, kidnapping and “other extreme violence” as they fled.
Mr Haq said local sources reported some 1,300 people injured by gunfire arrived in Tawila after being attacked while fleeing the town.
“We once again call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law,” he added, stressing that the safety of civilians and humanitarian workers must be guaranteed.
Meanwhile, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said Chad now hosts 1.4 million refugeesmainly from Darfur, and warned that more people would likely cross the border as the violence worsens. “With the escalation of violence in El Fasher, a new major influx into Chad is expected, further straining host communities,” Mr Haq said.
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