In its effort to monitor the situation of human rights and protection in Sudan, the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) undertook on 7 June engagement activities with Uganda-based Sudanese Human Rights and Civil society organizations.

The engagements are part of UNITAMS' ongoing consultation with a variety of actors to undertake constructive dialogue on the human rights and protection of civilians’ concerns emerging from the hostilities between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Army Forces (SAF).

The organizations include the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) and the Alkatim Adlan Centre for Enlightenment and Human Development (KACE).

The organizations have been monitoring the human rights situation across Sudan and documenting human rights violations and abuses by parties to the conflict.

UNITAMS also met with “Check Sudan”, a factchecking platform operated by Sudanese journalists based in Kampala, focused on the nature and scope of disinformation, misinformation and fake news, and their link with hate speech in the context of the current conflict.

A number of capacity building support activities were agreed, including strengthening skills on remote monitoring.

Successful relocation of children from Khartoum to Wad Madani

On the other hand and within the framework of the Country Task Force on Monitoring and reporting on grave violations against children, (CTFMR), UNITAMS engaged with the Ministry of Social Development and the National Council for Child Welfare and parties to the conflict on the security and safety of children stranded in orphanages in areas where heavy clashes are taking place.

On 7 June, at least 280 children from Mygoma orphanage in Khartoum were successfully evacuated and relocated to Wad Mdani, with the support of ICRC.

The children are under the care of the ministries of Social Welfare and Health, with UNICEF supporting the children’s medical care, feeding, psycho-social stimulation, play and educational activities, and supporting carers for the relocated children.  

According to a statement by UNICEF, “over 13.6 million children across Sudan, are in urgent need of lifesaving humanitarian support, the highest number ever recorded in the country”.