British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper affirmed that the horrific crimes committed in Sudan since the outbreak of the conflict must not go unpunished, stressing the need to hold all those responsible accountable “regardless of which side of the conflict they belong to.”
Her remarks come amid growing international concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation caused by the ongoing fighting between the warring parties, which has entered a more complex phase as violations expand and civilians are increasingly targeted across the country.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Cooper wrote: “Children are being killed in kindergartens, and patients are being killed in hospitals,” adding that “civilians and medical facilities are never legitimate targets.”
She emphasized that the deliberate targeting of such facilities constitutes a war crime and demands urgent action by the international community to stop these attacks and ensure the protection of medical personnel who play a vital role in saving the lives of thousands of civilians trapped in the fighting.
Cooper described the bombardment and assaults on hospitals and medical centers as “a blatant violation of international humanitarian law,” warning that the continued attacks threaten the complete collapse of Sudan’s healthcare system.
Sudan has been engulfed in a bloody conflict since April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leaving thousands dead and wounded, and displacing millions of people internally while forcing many others to flee to neighboring countries.
Reports from United Nations agencies indicate that the humanitarian crisis has reached “unprecedented levels,” with hospitals unable to provide basic services because of severe shortages of medical supplies and the destruction or closure of many health facilities due to direct targeting or their location within conflict zones.
The British Foreign Secretary reaffirmed that the United Kingdom will maintain diplomatic pressure through international channels—including the UN Security Council and key regional actors—to push both sides toward an immediate ceasefire and the opening of safe corridors for humanitarian aid delivery.
She also called for supporting efforts to document human rights violations with the aim of bringing those responsible to justice, stressing that impunity will not be tolerated.
Cooper concluded her statement by affirming that “the Sudanese people deserve to live in safety and peace,” and underscored that “the international community bears a moral and humanitarian responsibility to help end their suffering, restore stability, and support a political transition that preserves the country’s unity and protects the rights of its citizens.”
