United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator Martin Griffiths vehemently condemned the “severe acts of violence” against civilians in Sudan on Monday. For months, the African nation has been embroiled in a conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. Griffiths stressed the urgent need for unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, especially to prevent the spread of the cholera outbreak, as reported by the French Press Agency.
During the “Humanitarian Forum on Sudan,” Griffiths expressed deep concern about the escalating conflict between the army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces under General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The conflict, raging for nearly seven months, has left approximately 25 million people in Sudan in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.
Representatives from both sides of the Sudanese conflict attended the forum. Griffiths emphasized to them the critical need for safe and unrestricted access to reach all those in need. He highlighted the dire situation, noting that since mid-April, aid has reached only 4.1 million people, less than a quarter of those requiring assistance.
Last week, following talks in Saudi Arabia, both parties to the conflict pledged to improve the delivery of humanitarian aid. The United Nations was tasked with establishing the forum to facilitate the implementation of these commitments.
In his speech, Griffiths particularly emphasized the heavy burden borne by women and girls in the conflict. They face horrifying risks to their safety, including rape and abduction. He estimated that over 10,000 Sudanese have died since the conflict’s outbreak in mid-April.
Griffiths specifically called for facilitating humanitarian aid access to areas severely affected by the conflict and the cholera outbreak, particularly in Khartoum and South Kordofan states. He urged for a swift resolution to the crisis “before the outbreak spirals out of control.”
Beyond access, Griffiths called for concrete measures to fulfill commitments and pledges concerning the protection of civilians. He expressed horror at reports of severe violence against civilians, including ethnically targeted attacks and sexual violence. “This must stop immediately,” he asserted.
Last week, the UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, described the violence in Sudan as bordering on “absolute evil.”
Sudan’s political landscape has been fraught with challenges for decades, marked by civil war, ethnic conflicts, and political instability. The current conflict in Sudan is rooted in long-standing tensions between various factions, exacerbated by economic difficulties and political transitions. The humanitarian situation in Sudan has been deteriorating, with millions displaced and facing food insecurity, malnutrition, and health crises. The international community, including the United Nations, has been actively involved in trying to resolve the crisis and provide humanitarian aid. However, access to many areas remains difficult due to ongoing violence and logistical challenges. The situation is further complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of cholera, adding layers of complexity to the already dire humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
