Secretary-General Expresses Concern over Rising Violence in Sudan’s West Darfur

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about clashes in West Darfur, Sudan, over the weekend.  Escalating intercommunal violence has resulted in scores of deaths and injuries, the displacement of nearly 50,000 people and the destruction of property.  He expresses his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.

The Secretary-General calls on the Sudanese authorities to expend all efforts to de-escalate the situation and bring an end to the fighting, restore law and order and ensure the protection of civilians, in accordance with the Government’s National Plan for Civilian Protection.