The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has assisted in the return home over 60 prisoners in Sudan's South Darfur state at the request of parties to the Sudanese conflict, Patrick Youssef, the regional director for Africa at the International Committee of the Red Cross, announced on Tuesday, according to the ICRC's press-release.
"Today, at the request of the parties to the conflict, we have returned over 60 prisoners to their families in Nyala [the administrative center of South Darfur]," he said.
Operations to free prisoners in Sudan "underlines the importance of the ICRC’s neutrality and of its ability to work with all parties," Youssef said.
The regional director for Africa at the ICRC drew attention to the fact that "military activity is increasing in many parts" of Sudan, while "a devastating humanitarian crisis is developing right in front of our eyes." He called on the parties to the conflict to stop attacks on civilians.
"Non-stop, brutal, targeted attacks on civilians are among the main features of this war," Youssef said.
Youssef added that humanitarian organizations can "no longer tolerate being prevented from responding to immense needs in Sudan," as international humanitarian law requires all parties to allow humanitarian operations.
"The people of Sudan have suffered enough. The time has come to guarantee a neutral, impartial humanitarian environment, and to provide aid that will truly meet people's needs. History has shown that if belligerents comply with the laws of war, there is more hope of peace and reconciliation," Youssef concluded.
Violent confrontations between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army started in April.
Since then, the warring parties have implemented several short-term nationwide ceasefires, but none of them have been successful in bringing an end to the fighting. In late October, the parties resumed talks in Jeddah with Saudi Arabia's mediation, but fighting still goes on in the East African nation. Despite the Jeddah talks and the parties' declarations that they are prepared to negotiate, fighting has recently escalated in the Darfur region.
According to the UN, up to 9,000 people were killed in Sudan as a result of the conflict while more than 5.6 million were displaced as of October. Since April 2023, the cost of a standard food basket has increased by 60%, severely impoverishing about 20 million people, the ICRC also reported.