Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and international leaders called today, Thursday, for greater attention to the war in Sudan and accountability for those responsible for the fighting that has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of civilians. Clooney stated at a meeting in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, "There are survivors around the world who see strong and coordinated actions regarding Ukraine, and... it is no less deserving elsewhere."
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed that the United States supports the International Criminal Court's prosecutor's declaration that war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Sudan's Darfur region may be investigated, and that his office has begun investigating recent events. She added, "The international community's failure to hold those responsible for past crimes accountable has led these individuals to believe they can do it again. We have failed to achieve justice for the people of Darfur. This must change immediately."
The conflict in Sudan has led to widespread clashes, looting, and shortages of food and medicine in Khartoum and other cities, resulting in more than five million people being displaced from their homes. International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan asked at the meeting today, "If we are not outraged by what we see here, where is our humanity?" Meanwhile, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths stated in a separate meeting on Sudan yesterday that five thousand people have been killed, twelve thousand injured, and over six million face severe food shortages.
