Red Cross Chief Says ‘History Is Repeating’ in Sudan After Mass Killings Reported

Post by : Saif Nasser

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric, has expressed deep concern over the worsening crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region, saying that “history is repeating itself.” Her statement comes after reports of mass killings in the city of Al-Fashir, which recently fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group.

Al-Fashir was the last major city in Darfur under the control of Sudan’s national army. With its fall, the RSF now holds large parts of western Sudan. The United Nations has reported that hundreds of civilians and unarmed fighters may have been killed during the fighting. Witnesses said RSF fighters separated men from women and children, and gunfire was heard soon after. The RSF denies attacking civilians.

Mirjana Spoljaric described the situation as “horrific.” She said thousands of families had fled the city after the RSF takeover, while many others were trapped without food, water, or medical help. “It’s history repeating, and it becomes worse every time a place is taken over by the other side,” she said during a visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Darfur has faced terrible violence before. In the early 2000s, government-backed militias known as the Janjaweed carried out brutal attacks against ethnic groups, leading to what many called genocide. The RSF grew out of those same militias, and many fear the region is again facing a similar tragedy.

The Red Cross said it is “extremely concerned” about reports of a suspected massacre at the Saudi Hospital, the last known working medical center in Al-Fashir. The organization said it could not yet confirm what happened but heard that many wounded people collapsed or died while fleeing the violence.

The U.S. government has already accused the RSF of committing genocide earlier in the war, especially in the city of Geneina. Human rights groups have also blamed the RSF and allied militias for ethnic killings and widespread destruction across Darfur.

The Red Cross chief called on all nations involved in the conflict to use their influence to stop the violence. “Those states that have an influence on the parties to the conflict are responsible for making sure civilians are protected,” she said.

The United Arab Emirates has been accused by some of sending military aid to the RSF, though it has strongly denied it. Meanwhile, Sudan’s army, based in the city of Port Sudan, has received support from countries like Egypt and reportedly used Iranian-made drones in recent battles.

The International Organization for Migration says more than 70,000 people have escaped Al-Fashir since late October. However, nearly 200,000 others are still missing or trapped in the city, with no clear information about their safety.

Spoljaric said the world is now living through a “decade of war.” She noted that the number of armed conflicts around the globe has doubled in the last 15 years, now reaching about 130. She urged all sides — from Sudan to Gaza and Ukraine — to follow international humanitarian laws and protect civilians.

She also warned that new military technologies, such as drones, have made wars even more dangerous for ordinary people. “Drones create an environment where nowhere is safe anymore,” she said.

Before the RSF captured Al-Fashir, residents told reporters they had been hiding in underground shelters to escape bombs and drone strikes. They said that schools, mosques, and clinics had been attacked repeatedly.

The humanitarian situation in Sudan continues to worsen. Millions have been displaced since the civil war began more than two years ago. Many families have no access to clean water, food, or medical care. Relief workers have been struggling to enter conflict zones because of constant fighting.

As the world watches, Darfur once again faces deep suffering — a painful reminder of the past that many hoped would never return.