A/HRC/24/31 the airport of the state capital, Kadugli, was shelled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N) resulting in the death of a United Nations peacekeeper and wounding two others. 47. Reported hostilities between Government forces and the SPLA-N continue to seriously impact the lives of civilians in South Kordofan. There have been widespread reports by local and international human rights monitors of indiscriminate aerial strikes by SAF in different parts of the state, which have resulted in civilian deaths, injuries, destruction of homes, farmlands and large displacements. Hundreds of thousands of civilians are reported to have fled into neighbouring South Sudan and Ethiopia, while those who remain face rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that 240,000 people had fled into South Sudan and Ethiopia by the end of October 2012. 48. In April 2013, the fighting in South Kordofan spilled over into neighbouring North Kordofan state. Rebels from the Sudanese Revolutionary Front attacked the villages of Abu Kershola, Jamjaka, El-Feed, Umm Abdullah in South Kordofan, and Umm Rowaba, Allah Kareem, El-Sameh and El-Rahd in North Kordofan, which resulted in civilian deaths, injuries, destruction of civilian properties and massive displacements of the civilian population. The Independent Expert visited some of the displaced victims who were camped in a school compound in Al-Rahd, North Kordofan, and heard disturbing accounts of the ordeal they went through during the attacks. In July 2013, the same rebel group attacked a military post in the Sidreah area of North Kordofan, which led to civilians fleeing the area. While the Government of the Sudan bears primary responsibility for protecting the lives and properties of civilians, all parties to the conflict have a responsibility to respect the human rights of civilians at all times. Likewise, attacks on civilians by rebel groups should be condemned in the strongest terms. Blue Nile 49. The intensity of fighting in Blue Nile State has diminished considerably compared to the early days of the conflict in 2011. Nevertheless, sporadic fighting between SAF and SPLA-N continues to result in waves of civilian displacements in the southern part of the state. There has, however, been some positive development, notably the opening of access for delivery of humanitarian assistance in Government-controlled areas in the state. Thus, the World Food Programme was able to provide food assistance to 84,000 people, and UNHCR delivered emergency shelter and non-food items to 5,000 people by late May 2013. 50. A significant number of civilians remain trapped in rebel-controlled areas as a result of continued fighting in the region. Indiscriminate aerial strikes by SAF are of particular concern. The Independent Expert could not visit these areas, but received reports indicating that the humanitarian situation there continues to deteriorate. Many displaced and vulnerable civilians have been forced to move further south without access to basic necessities like water and food. United Nations and humanitarian agencies are unable to make a humanitarian assessment or deliver assistance in SPLM-N-controlled areas. Talks between the Government of the Sudan and SPLM-N – under the auspices of the African Union in Addis Ababa in April 2013 – to open up humanitarian access proved futile. Reports about aerial strikes by SAF and the terrible situation in rebel-controlled areas of Blue Nile paint a very worrying picture. 51. The Independent Expert expressed concern about the precarious human rights situation in the state during his meeting with the Governor and other interlocutors. There was general recognition that the continuing armed conflicts in the region, accompanied by the lack of security, have contributed to the deteriorating human rights situation in the state. The Independent Expert stresses the obligation and responsibility of both the Government 12