The United Nations Security Council has issued a joint statement expressing “alarm” at the increasing violence and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan. The Council strongly condemned attacks on civilians and the expansion of the conflict into areas that host large populations of internally displaced persons, refugees, and asylum seekers.
The statement highlights the widespread displacement in Sudan, with over seven million internally displaced people and an additional 1.5 million fleeing to neighboring countries. The conflict, which erupted on April 15 between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and former deputy Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has significantly escalated, impacting cities like Wad Madani, a haven for thousands of displaced individuals.
According to the International Organization for Migration, up to 300,000 people have fled Wad Madani in Al-Jazira state, representing a new wave of large-scale displacement. The Security Council expressed concern about the spread of violence to previously safer areas, causing refugees to flee once again.
In response to the escalating crisis, the Council called on the warring parties to facilitate rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access throughout Sudan. It also condemned the attack on a convoy belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross on December 10, urging the scaling up of humanitarian assistance to Sudan.
The conflict between the army and the RSF has resulted in the death of 12,190 people, according to conservative estimates by the Armed Conflict Locations and Events Data project. The Security Council’s statement underscores the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis and resolving the conflict to prevent further suffering and displacement in Sudan.
