Clashes continued in Sudan's capital Khartoum despite a seven-day ceasefire that entered its second day on Wednesday (May 24), with the United Nations condemning the use of sexual violence in the conflict.

The latest ceasefire, overseen by Saudi Arabia and the United States, allows for the delivery of humanitarian aid, in the hope that it could pave the way for a pause in the clashes.

Fierce fighting has been ongoing between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 15. Several ceasefires have been brokered, but none have been able to completely quell the fighting.

The current ceasefire began on Monday evening and will last for seven days, with the possibility of extension. Sudan’s rival factions met to negotiate the deal in Saudi Arabia.

Volker Turk, the UN human rights chief, described the situation in the country as “heartbreaking” at a press conference in Geneva on Wednesday. He reported ongoing ceasefire violations, saying his office had received reports of fighters and clashes in Khartoum.

The UN human rights chief also reported the use of sexual violence in the conflict, saying his office had recorded at least 25 cases so far. He added that the real figure could be much higher.

Mr Turk called on Sudan's military leader General Abdel-Fattah Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the RSF, to "issue clear instructions... that there is no tolerance for sexual violence".

Meanwhile, the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) said the fighting has displaced more than 1 million people internally so far. An estimated 319,000 have fled to neighboring countries including Egypt, Chad and South Sudan.

Mai Anh (according to AFP, DW)