Speaking in Geneva, OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said that 111 people have been confirmed dead so far.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (on screen) of the Philippines addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-fifth session.
The ICC is not a UN organization but has a cooperation agreement with the United Nations.
The court has been investigating the crackdown on drugs implemented by the former President, which the UN rights office, OHCHR, repeatedly condemned while he was in office, from 2016 to 2022.
One OHCHR report found credible allegations of widespread and systematic extrajudicial killings, carried out during the so-called “war on drugs”, along with arbitrary detention and almost total impunity for the violations.
Speaking in Geneva, OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said that it was crucial to address such impunity and to protect victims and witnesses from reprisals and retributions.
She praised the “great courage” of the families of those killed in the war on drugs in seeking justice and noted that only four cases have so far resulted in convictions following appeals.
Dire conditions continue for civilians in need of healthcare in Sudan
Humanitarian partners in Sudan’s war-ravaged North Darfur are reporting “extremely dire” conditions facing civilians in need of healthcare, particularly in the state capital of El Fasher and displacement camps in surrounding areas.
Sudan’s transitional military Government clashed with former allies the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, nearly two years ago, beginning a struggle for control of the country together with allied armed groups, which has left tens of thousands dead and millions displaced.
Currently, more than 200 health facilities in El Fasher are not functioning, and there are severe shortages of medical staff and critical shortages of medical supplies, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said.
Healthcare system overwhelmed
“Our humanitarian colleagues are telling us that the continued hostilities have caused waves of displacement, overwhelming an already fragile healthcare system that is struggling even to meet people’s basic needs,” he added.
“On top of that, the insecurity and access constraints continue to impede our partners’ attempts to provide essential medical supplies.”
Disease outbreaks are also deepening the humanitarian crisis.
Across areas impacted by fighting, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over 70 per cent of hospitals and health facilities are no longer operational, leaving millions without healthcare, said the UN Spokesperson.
“Sudan’s health system has also come under relentless attack. As of mid-February, WHO recorded nearly 150 attacks on health care centres in Sudan since the war there began – but the real figure is most likely be far higher.”