New Report on El-Fasher:
Artillery bombardment of 2 hospitals & humanitarian warehouse consistent with targeting;
Major defensive fortifications dividing city in half as SAF's area of control shrinks;
RSF deployed a truck-mounted rocket launcher.
🛰️
@Maxar
!NEW REPORT!: Russia has held more than 6,000 children from Ukraine in 43+ camps and other facilities for systematic re-education, and in some cases foster/adoption from Black Sea to Russia’s Far East finds
@HRL_YaleSPH
in
@ObserveConflict
@StateCSO
BREAKING:
@YaleHRL
identifies cargo aircraft flying over RSF territory in El-Fasher matching plane seen at UAE base in Chad that allegedly provides lethal aid to RSF.
1/
🛰️ :
@Maxar
BREAKING:
@HRL_YaleSPH
: RSF + allies engaged in widespread + systematic targeted destruction of 26 communities in Darfur which may violate Int'l Law inc. Geneva Conventions, Rome Statute (which inc. Genocide Convention provisions)
#Sudan
@ObserveConflict
Say hello to the Humanitarian Research Lab
@Yale
Twitter! We’re a lab at
@YaleSPH
@YaleEMD
dedicated to research that supports humanitarian action globally! The lab isled by PI Kaveh Khoshnood, PhD, MPH w/ Nathaniel Raymond,
@nattyray11
RSF attacked "30 primarily Zaghawa communities in six weeks around el-Fasher"
"If they take the city, [RSF] would control about 1/3 of Sudan. 'We see them burning houses in el-Fasher already.'"
@nattyray11
"This is a ticking time-bomb"
@SAPA_ORG
@YYElamin
The report documents Russia’s systematic relocation, re-education, and in some cases foster or adoption of Ukraine’s children.
These activities constitute alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity including Geneva Conventions & Convention on the Rights of the Child
2/
The network of facilities, primarily camps, but which also include a psychiatric hospital and a family center, stretch across 4,000 miles from the Black Sea to the eastern coast of the Pacific Ocean, including sites in Siberia and Magadan, a location 1,300 miles from Alaska.
3/
Officials across all levels of Russia’s federal government and regional administrations are engaged in this systematic effort to re-educate and transfer children.
5/
Special Report: El-Fasher is in crisis:
Potential ethnically motivated targeting of neighborhoods w/ Zaghawa communties in El-Fasher;
Significant new burials in 5 civilian cemeteries;
large-scale civilian displacement confirmed
“Intentionally separating children from their parents, even temporarily, can constitute a war crime and, in some cases, a crime against humanity,” said Kaveh Khoshnood, associate professor
@YaleEMD
@YaleSPH
faculty director
@HRL_YaleSPH
8/
The children from Ukraine include those w/ known parents or guardians, purported orphans, children living in institutional facilities – many with documented disabilities, and children with unknown/unclear guardianship status.
6/
>3/4 of camp facilities appear engaged in pro-Russia re-education, including documented military training.
~10% of camps suspended children’s return to their homes, including two locations where children’s returns appear to indefinitely suspended.
4/
“Russia's actions are an urgent human rights and child welfare emergency,” stated Khoshnood. “This report is the first comprehensive effort to document this disturbing and allegedly illegal pattern of child separation, indoctrination, and forced adoption.”
/ends
BREAKING:
@HRL_YaleSPH
for Ukraine
@ObserveConflict
finds that Russia is forcing residents of occupied areas of Ukraine to acquire Russian citizenship. Those who do not can be detained and deported.
[1/6]
REPORT:
@HRL_YaleSPH
in
#Sudan
@ObserveConflict
finds RSF + aligned forces destroyed Sirba town, West Darfur
~4463 structures, 86% of identified structures, are assessed to have been destroyed as of 29 July 2023
Hundreds of people reportedly killed
🚨ALERT🚨 Yale HRL corroborates 9 open source reports of attacks on villages west of El-Fasher, North Darfur by RSF in the past two weeks.
RSF + aligned forces cont. widespread, systematic, + targeted attacks on civilian communities west of El-Fasher.
“Parents have reported signing power of attorney for their child to an unknown entity & being unable to contact their children or camp administrators. In several cases, the scheduled return of these children to their families has been indefinitely delayed or cancelled.”
9/
Significant civilian displacement toward Zamzam IDP camp identified in satellite imagery.
Likely looting at El-Fasher South Hospital visible days after
@MSF_Sudan
reports RSF attacked hospital.
Munitions impact to Community Kitchen, reported to kill 8 people, corroborated.
2/
REPORT:
Targeted razing southeast El-Fasher neighborhoods,
Additional conflict-related damage in Abu Shouk IDP camp,
3 communities with arson attacks between 20-26 May (total 32 communities since 31 March),
RSF present in east of El-Fasher
🛰️:
@maxar
🚨New Report🚨
@HRL_YaleSPH
, part of
@ObserveConflict
, has identified with high confidence at least 21 distinct locations in Donetsk oblast as components in a system of filtration for civilians that Russia & its aligned forces now operate.
THREAD:
1/
+~280 football fields damage to likely civilian neighborhoods inside El-Fasher since 3 June. Total damage = 2.088 km2 since 21 March.
8 communities razed since 3 June west of El-Fasher, 3 for the first time. Total 43 communities razed near El-Fasher since 31 March
/3
Today
@HRL_YaleSPH
’s peer-reviewed observational study in
@GlobalHealthBMJ
documenting damage during 1st mo of Israel’s Gaza bombardment finds medical complexes sustained damage similar to non-medical buildings btw 7 Oct – 7 Nov 2023
Report Preview: Imagery analysis confirms RSF in outskirts of El-Fasher including likely checkpoints at major east + north roads; SAF cont. to bombard RSF locations
Confirmation of +10 (total 21) razed communities since 31 Mar inc. 3 outside RSF-controlled Mellit btw 20-25 April
REPORT: Confirmation of conflict-related damage in Abu Shouk IDP camp inside El-Fasher consistent w/ RSF fighting SAF-aligned forces
This indicates the opening of a northwestern front in RSF’s multidirectional assault on the city.
🛰️:
@maxar
,
@planet
NEW: Sudan Sitrep 004
@HRL_YaleSPH
#Sudan
@ObserveConflict
w/
@PlanetscapeAi
find Murnei in West Darfur likely attacked on 27 June 2023 - suffering at least 2 km2 of fire damage.
This is the equivalent of 280 football pitches being set on fire.
NEW: Sudan Sitrep 005
@HRL_YaleSPH
#Sudan
@ObserveConflict
w/
@PlanetscapeAi
finds damage to civilian infrastructure continues due to RSF + SAF fighting in Omdurman
The functioning of a critical water facility in El-Obeid has deteriorated since 15 April
🚨 ALERT
@HRL_YaleSPH
confirms SAF bombardment consistent w RSF present in El-Fasher, +2 razed communities west of El-Fasher
Assessment of fighting in El-Fasher likely
SAF positions + activities suggest they expect multidirectional ground assault from RSF
NEW REPORT:
@HRL_YaleSPH
confirms
RSF present in El-Fasher including major checkpoints on north + east roads
+11 N. Darfur communities razed since 31 March, 3 outside RSF-controlled Mellit
SAF bombardment in north + east El-Fasher
“The world is nowhere to be found” as RSF forces escalate “ethnically targeted violence in Darfur,”
@TheRWCHR
's
@mutasimali3
+
@yonahdiamond
.
After killing 150,000 + displacing millions, Darfur's violence “a shamefully overlooked humanitarian catastrophe."
NEW:
@HRL_YaleSPH
will document alleged gross violations of international law and war crimes by Russia-aligned forces in Ukraine as part of a new Conflict Observatory program announced today by the U.S. Department of State
#ConflictObservatory
REPORT:
@HRL_YaleSPH
@ObserveConflict
#Sudan
report corroborates reports of significant damage to Doctors’ Hospital, civilian sites + key landmarks in Khartoum as a result of clashes. At least 104 civilians reportedly killed due to airstrikes since 2 Sept
REPORT: Significant new conflict-related damage in northeast, east + southeast neighborhoods in El-Fasher, 14-18 May totalling 0.467 km2.
RSF gaining ground in several directions + conflict related damage encircles southeast El-Fasher.
🛰️:
@maxar
@planet
With RSF dug in around [El-Fasher] and nearby camps, including Zamzam, hundreds of thousands of civilians are being slowly “strangulated”, says
@nattyray11
of
@YaleSPH
@HRL_YaleSPH
. More than a million may have fled. Satellites reveal swelling cemeteries.
Many of the communities attacked are primarily demographically Masalit, or other non-Arab Muslim ethnic groups, inc. the Fur + Zaghawa
RSF + aligned forces’ patterns of attack are identical to the atrocities + crimes committed by the gov't of Sudan + Janjaweed militias in 2003-4
THREAD 🧵: Based on a review of nearly 300 facilities across 5 regions,
@HRL_YaleSPH
concluded Russian-aligned forces have engaged in widespread and systematic bombardment of Ukrainian healthcare facilities. Summary:
🚨REPORT🚨
@HRL_YaleSPH
finds widespread flooding across El-Fasher and Zamzam IDP camp. Multiple latrines, food & water distribution sites, IDP shelters, healthcare centers, and the livestock market, are confirmed flooded or flood-affected.
🛰️
@Maxar
…
Status Update:
@HRL_YaleSPH
finds key SAF strategic outpost in Menawashi between Nyala + El-Fasher has been likely vacated by SAF
Any potential RSF approach to El-Fasher from Nyala is largely undefended
All data in this report indicate that RSF + aligned forces have often been the only forces in the area
There are no other actors assessed to be able to commit these atrocities
@HRL_YaleSPH
concludes the actions detailed in this report can be attributed to RSF + aligned forces
El-Fasher is home to >500,000 IDPs + est total population >2 million
A ground assault will result in a humanitarian emergency + almost certain widespread mass atrocities
RSF is capable of launching a multidirectional attack on El-Fasher at the time of their choosing
New communities razed by arson 20-26 May are closest to El-Fasher
Gileidit + "Unidentified Community 23" are approx 12-10 km to center of El-Fasher city, 4-6 km of Abu Shouk + Al Salam IDP camps
Vehicles including BTR light-armored vehicle near Gileidit, assessed likely RSF
+8 new burned communities btw 26 May - 3 June alone, (+14 burned communities btw 18 May - 4 June), 40 total burned west and northwest of El-Fasher since 31 March;
Conflict damage (munition impact) to main market in El-Fasher city
🚨New Report🚨 Approximately 1/6 (15.73%) of Ukraine’s
#crop
storage facilities have been damaged, destroyed, or controlled by Russia since 24 Feb representing >14.57% of 🇺🇦 crop storage in metric tonnes. By
@HRL_YaleSPH
w/
@ORNL
for
@ObserveConflict
.
@HRL_YaleSPH
provided a detailed report to
@OSCE
Moscow Mechanism using satellite imagery & open source methods that found a systematic & widespread pattern of Russian bombardment on Ukrainian health facilities in 5 areas, corroborating
@OSCE
monitors
SAF has consistently failed to provide meaningful protection of civilians, including prevention or intervention in the extrajudicial murder of key government leaders who also represent major figures among the Masalit and other non-Arab ethnic groups.
We
@HRL_YaleSPH
@YaleSPH
are excited to announce w/
@UNmigration
the launch of Data Responsibility: A multi-volume series of peer reviewed articles that study how data can be used responsibly in the humanitarian, development and related sectors (1/2)
“The responsible use of data is core to the work IOM in over 100 countries around the world.”
IOM and
@HRL_YaleSPH
@YaleSPH
are working together to launch an initiative that will identify and advance best practices in data responsibility.
➡️
NEW REPORT:
@HRL_YaleSPH
#Sudan
@ObserveConflict
w/
@PlanetscapeAi
document destruction of civilian areas + protected civilian objects in Khartoum state including healthcare + water/sanitation facilities + civilian infrastructure in 100 days of conflict
"The tempo of destruction of intentional targeting of [predominantly Zaghawa] communities by RSF in Darfur has sped up"
@nattyray11
"If El-Fasher falls then there will be nothing preventing the RSF from the identifying every single community left standing that they missed"
Has the world forgotten Sudan? After more than a year of war, Sudan is facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters and there are new warnings about the risk of genocide in Darfur.
#AJStartHere
with
@SandraGathmann
explains.
Full episode ➡️
@ObserveConflict
@PlanetscapeAi
At least 0.7 km2 of El-Geneina has been razed w/ systematic and targeted school destruction
This area damaged by fire in El-Geneina is equivalent to 98 football pitches
Yale HRL sees phenomena consistent with potential graves at Volnovakha Correctional Colony No. 120 in Olenivka, preceding the of July 29th explosion that allegedly killed 53 inmates.
15/
Volnovakha Correctional Colony № 120 (Olenivka) is site of 29 July explosion that allegedly killed 53 POWs. Account alleging grave digging corroborates April imagery of disturbed earth consistent w potential graves. 2nd instance seen in 27 July imagery
1/
These attacks on communities west of El-Fasher increase the probability that multi-directional, full-scale RSF assault on El-Fasher is occurring now.
Such an attack will likely target civilians + IDPs, including the >500,000 IDPs + >2.8 million total people in + around El-Fasher
The Report, “System of Filtration: Mapping Russia’s Detention Operations in Donetsk Oblast” maps Russia and Russia-aligned forces’ filtration system that processes Ukrainian citizens, POWs, and others in Donetsk oblast beginning as early as March 2022
#ObserveConflict
3/
BREAKING:
@HRL_YaleSPH
corroborates
@StateDept
Feb. warning that Russia would use lists to capture + disappear Ukrainian civilians
As least 226 people in Kherson taken by Russia’s forces + FSB. Detainees have been allegedly tortured w/ deaths in custody
REPORT:
@HRL_YaleSPH
with
@UDVL_OSINT
new
@ObserveConflict
report finds 66 verified incidents of conflict-related damage to power generation & transmission infrastructure and identifies a further 157 incidents from Oct 2022 - Apr 2023 in
#Ukraine
.
🔗
Our Faculty Director Kaveh Khoshnood and Executive Director
@nattyray11
joined
@SayChrisLive
on panel on Rights of the Child at United Nations High Level Event on Gross Human Rights Violations Due to the Aggression Against Ukraine
The U.N. is investigating alleged human rights abuses occurring during the war in Ukraine — and a CBS News
@SayChrisLive
report highlighting Russian attempts to kidnap thousands of children is playing a pivotal part.
Children range from age 6-17
Many children targeted for deportation to Belarus are members of highly vulnerable populations including children who are orphans or institutionalized, children w/ disabilities, children from low-income or large families, children w/ military parents
🚨Rapid Report🚨
@HRL_YaleSPH
, finds dozens of critical civilian objects including medical, educational, food production, and energy infrastructure, have been impacted by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam on 6 June in Ukraine
@ObserveConflict
rapid report
1/3
More than 5 million people in Sudan have been displaced by a power struggle between the military and an offshoot paramilitary group.
@NickSchifrin
spoke with
@USAmbUN
about the humanitarian crisis and U.S. policy toward Sudan.
Satellite imagery suggests that a vast area of el-Geneina, a city in Sudan’s Darfur region, has been destroyed or damaged by fire, with between 1,100 and 5,000 civilians perishing
REPORT:
@HRL_YaleSPH
for
@ObserveConflict
#Sudan
confirms reports of armed forces operating in civilian neighborhoods in
#Nyala
.
Visible damage to civilian dwellings in satellite imagery + reports of indiscriminate shelling by RSF, paramilitary forces, SAF
Btw 20-23 May new conflict-related damage:
Abu Shouk IDP camp
Northeast neighborhood of Tijaniya
Mahata Kharaba El-Fasher (El-Fasher Power Station)
RSF + SAF combat in + around Abu Shouk represents a major deterioration in the human security situation inside + around El-Fasher
This report shows Belarus' complicity + support for Russia's systematic campaign of child deportation, which was the subject of arrest warrants issued by the ICC for alleged war crimes, and contravenes international law, including Art. 49 of the Geneva Convention IV
Satellite imagery analysis corroborates credible open source reports that RSF + SAF and their aligned forces are engaged in expanded ground fighting and bombardment.
Power station is contested.
Markets are likely closed.
Russia’s Investigative Committee, Ministries of Education of the so-called LPR + DPR, + regime-aligned orgs. including civil society, facilitated the movement of children from occupied Ukraine to Belarus through Russia
"Most alarming is the RSF’s south-eastward advance. Unpublished satellite imagery shows trucks in Sennar state dumping objects “the size of bodies” into the Nile, says
@nattyray11
."
@YaleSPH
@HRL_YaleSPH
If caused by an explosion, the dam's destruction would violate the Geneva Conventions’ AP I & II which forbid attacks on “installations containing dangerous forces” if such an attack may “release dangerous forces” and cause severe losses among civilians.
Image:
@Maxar
3/3
Belarus is directly involved in Russia's deportation activities
Belarus’ authoritarian leader Alyaksander Lukashenka, in collaboration with Vladimir Putin, directly oversees the deportation of children to Belarus
The number of children from Ukraine currently in Belarus is unknown
Yale HRL confirms reports that SAF have engaged in artillery bombardment + at least one airstrike in east and northeast of city and hardened positions inside El-Fasher.
These activities are all consistent with SAF expecting a multidirectional assault by RSF in near future.
3 forms of civilian mass casualties are likely to occur in El-Fasher:
1) Deprivation-related death from lack of basic necessities (food/water/meds), ongoing + widespread
2) Civilian death from crossfire, documented
3) Civilian death from mass atrocity events, not yet documented
REPORT:
@HRL_YaleSPH
for
@ObserveConflict
#Sudan
finds evidence of alleged disposal of 4+ light-toned objects measuring 1.8 - 2.2 meters consistent with body bags containing human remains at site reported to be a possible mass grave in El-Geneina.
Filtration facilities can be organized into four categories: 1) registration points, 2) camps and other holding facilities for those awaiting registration, 3) interrogation centers, and 4) correctional colonies (i.e. prisons) that serve as longer-term detention facilities.
7/
Starting Now! Research experts from
@HRL_YaleSPH
discuss findings in a recent
@StateDept
supported report detailing the detentions and disappearances of 226 persons in Ukraine, as they relate to Russia’s filtration operations.
Watch at
After a report this week renewed scrutiny on Moscow for deporting Ukrainian children and detaining others, President Putin, ignoring widespread condemnations of human rights abuses, said more Russian families want to adopt Ukrainian children.
@HRL_YaleSPH
corroborates razing of +2 communities in North Darfur west of El-Fasher, total 11 confirmed communities razed by RSF since 31 March 2024. Reports estimate 50,000 people displaced by RSF’s attacks on North Darfur communities west of El-Fasher