UN rights chief warns Sudan commanders of catastrophe in al-Fashir

The U.N. human rights chief said on Friday he was "horrified" by escalating violence near Sudan's al-Fashir and held discussions this week with commanders from both sides of the conflict, warning of a humanitarian disaster if the city is attacked.

"The High Commissioner (Volker Turk) warned both commanders that fighting in (al-Fashir), where more than 1.8 million residents and internally displaced people are currently encircled and at imminent risk of famine, would have a catastrophic impact on civilians, and would deepen intercommunal conflict with disastrous humanitarian consequences," said Ravina Shamdasani, Turk's spokesperson, at a Geneva press briefing.