UN Demands Sudan’s War Stop After Civilians Killed in Markets and Hospitals — 23 Dead in US Custody Sparks New Call for Accountability

Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, told the UN Human Rights Council on Monday that Sudan’s conflict is now hitting ordinary people in the most public of places. He specifically named “markets, hospitals [and] fuel stations” as sites where civilians are being killed and injured, and urged all parties to the conflict to respect international law and protect non-combatants [237544].

Türk did not single out any side in the Sudanese war, but his appeal comes as the council meets to address months of spiraling violence in the African nation. The UN has repeatedly tried to draw global attention to a war that shows no sign of slowing down [237544].

In the same session, Türk turned his focus to the United States, calling for “accountability” after what he said were 23 deaths in US immigration custody in 2026 alone. He said four more people have died since his last update to the council in June, and stressed that “there needs to be a full, transparent investigation” into each case [237231].

Türk also urged Washington to stop deporting people to countries where they could face “irreparable harm,” saying no one should be sent back to a place where their life or freedom would be threatened [237231]. The United States has not yet publicly responded to his remarks [237231].

The High Commissioner’s comments come amid broader concerns about how governments and institutions handle life-and-death decisions. His office has also warned about the risks of artificial intelligence and the use of autonomous weapons, though his latest statements focused on the immediate human cost of conflict and detention policies [237246].

The UN Human Rights Council session continues this week in Geneva [237231].