After failed ceasefire… United Nations warns of worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the current situation in Sudan as “extremely worrying,” reiterating his warnings that the conflict could spread to neighboring countries.
Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya, Guterres touched on developments in Sudan and the clashes that began on 15 April between the Sudanese army led by General Abdul Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
“He said several agreements had failed to stop the fighting, which has driven tens of thousands of refugees out of Sudan and raised fears of a worsening humanitarian crisis in the region.”
New risks
The envoy stressed that the two sides must agree on a permanent ceasefire, saying: The situation is very worrying, for fear that it would spread to neighboring countries that are experiencing political problems and transitional phases, according to the US Associated Press.
“Ethiopia is in a peace process, it is necessary to avoid any spillover from the Sudan into Ethiopia, and Guterres has sent the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths to Port Sudan, where thousands of Sudanese and foreigners have gathered in the hope of fleeing the country.”
Upon his arrival to Port Sudan, Griffiths wrote on Twitter that his visit reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to the Sudanese people, USAID noted, adding that the envoy sought to organize the delivery of humanitarian aid to millions of Sudanese caught in the fighting, as Arab and international efforts continued to reach a sustainable cessation of hostilities.
“Thousands of UN staff were evacuated by road convoy to Port Sudan, and some UN offices temporarily suspended their services such as the World Food Program, after two staff members were killed in the fighting.”
The WFP later announced it would resume operations and is expected to start distributing food in four states – Al-Qadarif, Al Jazirah, Kassala, and White Nile – in the coming days. Griffiths told a news conference from Port Sudan that he was seeking strong guarantees on the safety and security of aid workers and supplies.
UN Efforts
Griffiths addressed criticism that the U.N. has not done enough: Operating in Sudan is a challenge, as six World Food Program trucks bound for the western Darfur region were looted, despite assurances of safety and security.
“It’s not like we’re asking for the moon,” he said, adding: “We are demanding safe movement of humanitarian supplies and people. We are doing it in every other country, even without a ceasefire.”
“We are very clear now in our operational requirements as to what we need in terms of commitments from them,” he said.
Griffiths’ visit comes after South Sudan’s foreign ministry announced that both sides in the conflict had agreed “in principle” to a seven-day ceasefire starting Thursday.
The UN said its dedicated programs have secured only 14 percent of the funds required for its operations this year in Sudan, and it still needs around US$1.5 billion to meet these needs, which have worsened since the outbreak of fighting.
