LONDON: The US must take 鈥渞obust actions鈥� to halt human rights violations in Sudan following its determination that both sides in the country鈥檚 civil war have committed 鈥渁trocity crimes,鈥� Human Rights Watch has said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Dec. 6 said that both the government鈥檚 Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have perpetrated war crimes during the eight-month conflict in Sudan.

He said: 鈥淚n haunting echoes of the genocide that began almost 20 years ago in Darfur, we have seen an explosion of targeted violence against some of the same survivors鈥� communities.

鈥淢asalit civilians have been hunted down and left for dead in the streets, their homes set on fire, and told that there is no place in Sudan for them.鈥�

The warring sides have also overseen crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing, he added.

Though the US鈥� message tells victims 鈥渢hat their suffering is known,鈥� Washington must carry out a change of government policy and launch measures to prevent further violations, said HRW.

Nicole Widdersheim, deputy Washington director at HRW, said: 鈥淭he US determination of the atrocity crimes unfolding in Sudan sends an important message to the victims that their suffering is known.

鈥淏ut for it to serve as a deterrent to further abuses and help safeguard civilians, it needs to be accompanied by a change of US government policy and concrete measures.鈥�

The organization warned that the two warring sides in Sudan have 鈥渃ommitted indiscriminate attacks on civilians, destroyed essential infrastructure, and blocked aid access.鈥�

The conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 12,190 people and the displacement of 6.6 million.

Though the US announced it had identified violations of international humanitarian law in Sudan, Blinken鈥檚 statement lacked a commitment to follow-up action, HRW said.

In order to ensure 鈥渢hose responsible are held to account,鈥� and that 鈥渢he world acts to protect civilians in Sudan,鈥� the US must initiate 鈥渞obust consultations鈥� alongside the UN, African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the organization said.

Washington should also use its sanctions power to punish targets in cases of credible evidence of international law violations, it added.

Key civilian voices representing displaced communities and human rights activism must also be amplified by the US, including through funding for Sudanese civil society organizations, HRW said.

The UN Fact-Finding Mechanism on Sudan should also receive 鈥渟trong support鈥� from Washington in order to gather relevant evidence.

Widdersheim said: 鈥淭he US government knows the magnitude of what is unfolding before its eyes, and should not choose to look away.

鈥淚t can start by rallying support for accountability efforts, including by the International Criminal Court, and working to fill the existing vacuum in civilian protection in Darfur.鈥�