UN warns against atrocities in Sudan's Kordofan as violence escalates

The United Nations human rights chief on Thursday warned of atrocities brewing amidst aggravated conflict in Sudan's Kordofan region.

Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stressed that Kordofan is at risk of becoming "another El Fasher", referring to the capital of Sudan's North Darfur state, where thousands of civilians were reportedly killed in a year-long siege.

"Since 25 October, when Rapid Support Forces captured Bara city in North Kordofan, my Office has documented at least 269 civilian deaths from aerial strikes, artillery shelling, and summary executions," Turk said.

Turk also noted that due to the conflict, large-scale telecommunications and internet outages have occurred in Kordofan, and the actual civilian death toll may be significantly higher than currently reported, and that over the past month, more than 45,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the region.

Kordofan is located in central-western Sudan and serves as a key corridor between the capital Khartoum and the Darfur region to the west. Since the second half of this year, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have been locked in a continuing struggle for control of the area.

"Once again, I urge all states with influence over the parties to take immediate action to halt the fighting, and stop the arms flows that are fueling the conflict. Have we not learned our lessons from the past? We cannot stand idly by and allow more Sudanese to become victims of horrific human rights violations. We must act, and this war must end now," Turk said.

UN warns against atrocities in Sudan's Kordofan as violence escalates

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing said Tuesday that China is willing to collaborate with all parties to ensure nuclear energy better supports the development and prosperity of all nations.

Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during the second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris which he attended as Chinese President Xi Jinping's special representative.

Zhang said China has always adhered to a sensible, coordinated, and balanced nuclear security strategy proposed by President Xi and has made concrete contributions to promoting the global development of nuclear energy.

China is willing to work with all parties to jointly implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, and promote nuclear energy innovation-driven development, safety foundation building, industrial collaboration and win-win cooperation, so that nuclear energy can better benefit the development and prosperity of all countries, he said.

Zhang noted that China stands ready to join hands with all parties to make new contributions in building a clean, beautiful and sustainable world and a community with a shared future for humanity.

Heads of state, government leaders and senior representatives from over 30 countries, as well as heads of relevant international organizations, attended the summit and issued a joint statement titled "Safe and affordable nuclear energy for all."

Chinese vice premier calls for global nuclear cooperation