The U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, has called on the warring parties in Sudan to return to the negotiating table in Jeddah to find a way out of the war that started on April 15, 2023. She urged the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to “immediately reverse” actions obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid to avoid necessitating Security Council intervention. Furthermore, she accused the Rapid Support Forces, led by Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as “Hemedti,” of committing mass killings and atrocities amid fears of widespread famine and disease outbreaks.
During a press conference at the State Department in Washington, on the eve of the “one-year anniversary of the horrific civil war in Sudan,” Greenfield condemned the global silence on the Sudan war, stating it “must change now.” She emphasized that “the international community needs to give more, do more, and care more,” noting that the United Nations’ humanitarian appeal for Sudan has been only 5% funded so far, forcing the World Food Programme to cut aid to more than 7 million people in Chad and South Sudan. Experts have warned that “the coming weeks and months could result in the death of over 200,000 children from hunger.”
The conflict has led to Sudan experiencing one of the fastest unfolding humanitarian crises globally. About 25 million people, including over 14 million children, require humanitarian assistance. More than 8 million people have been displaced, either within Sudan or to neighboring countries, making it the largest displacement crisis currently worldwide. The United Nations and partners aim to reach 14.7 million people with aid through 2024.
The war has been particularly devastating for children, with millions facing displacement and a lack of access to essential services. Health crises have also escalated, with outbreaks of diseases like cholera and a severe lack of medical supplies and healthcare services.
Both the SAF and RSF have been accused of committing severe human rights violations, including indiscriminate attacks on civilians and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. These actions have led to thousands of civilian deaths and further exacerbated the humanitarian catastrophe.
Efforts to mediate the conflict have faced challenges. Initial agreements, such as the “Jeddah Declaration,” aimed at protecting civilians and de-escalating the conflict, have failed to halt the violence. International mediators have struggled to foster a lasting ceasefire, and negotiations have often stalled due to the parties’ inability to compromise.
