Michelle Bachelet is United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Photo: AFP/VNA

In a statement on Wednesday, Ms. Bachelet called on the Sudanese authorities to protect the people of West Darfur, after days of bloody clashes between Arab and non-Arab groups that left at least 213 people dead.

“While initial measures taken by the authorities to calm tensions are welcome, I urge the authorities to address the underlying causes of violence in this region and fulfill their responsibility to protect the population,” she said.

The UN Security Council is preparing to hold a closed-door informal meeting to discuss the current crisis in Sudan.