Sudan: Guterres urges donors to step up aid response to stop death, destruction

Speaking to donors at a UN pledge event in Geneva that included Egypt, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the European Union and the European Union, Mr. Guterres said that some $3 billion is needed to help people in Sudan and those who fled to neighboring countries.

“The scale and speed of Sudan’s descent into death and destruction is unprecedented,” he warned. Without strong international support, Sudan could quickly become a region of lawlessness, radiating insecurity across the region.”

Waste money

Speaking via video message as a new temporary ceasefire between the Sudanese Army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) came into effect, the UN chief said hundreds of civilians had been killed and many thousands more injured since the attacks broke out in mid-April.

“These numbers grow by the day. The situation in Darfur and Khartoum is catastrophic. The fight is raging with people being attacked in their homes and on the streets,” said Mr. Guterres.

“Before this conflict started, Sudan was suffering with a humanitarian crisis. This has now escalated into a tragedy that affected more than half of the country’s population.”

The UN Secretary General emphasized that the responsibility of the international community is to support the people of Sudan and neighboring countries.

He too stop violence against aid workers and the theft of humanitarian supplies, calling on warning groups to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian action, in line with international law.

Streets ‘stained with blood’

Conveying that message, UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk reiterated his willingness to mediate between the two sides to the conflict.

“I have also urged all States to help advance a solution to this tragedy. However efforts to pursue and delay a termination have yielded little to no success. We see it again carelessness, sense of conflict that occurs in a state of total indifference. The streets of Khartoum and its surrounding towns, of El Geneina and of El Obeid are stained with the blood of the citizens.”

Mr. Türk said that allegations of sexual violence, including rape, noted that his Office has received credible reports of 18 cases of sexual violence related to the fight against at least 53 women and girls – the victims are at least 10 girls.

In one case, 18-20 women were allegedly raped in the same attack. In almost all cases, RSF is identified as the perpetrator. But there is little access to medical and psychosocial support and many cases go unreported.

Sudanese youth pay the highest price

“This is a human rights and humanitarian crisis that is occurring on an incredible scale, on a devastating scale and with complexity not seen before in Sudan”, said the UN Human Rights Director.

“Every day, children bear the worst consequences, with more than 13 million across the country in urgent need of lifesaving humanitarian support, including 5.6 million in Darfur. At least 620,000 are reported to be suffering from severe malnutrition.”

Ceasefire accepted

Mr. Türk welcomed the new 72-hour nationwide ceasefire adopted on March 17 and urged both sides to honor their commitments to stop fighting and to allow the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid across the country. the.

“The latest destruction is a a new opportunity to end this string of torture. I remind both parties of their commitments to respect international humanitarian and human rights law and to take all necessary measures to protect all civilians – including humanitarian and medical workers – from harm. ”

The UN rights chief also called on authorities to conduct prompt, thorough, impartial, and independent investigations into all violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. “I remind them that the failure to pursue accountability for past grave crimes has contributed to the current crisis,” he said.

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and OCHA chief, Martin Griffiths, said: “Every day the crisis continues in Sudan, the humanitarian situation is getting worse. Despite the rampant violence, humanitarian workers – with our heroic community partners working on the front lines – are pressing forward with their efforts to deliver aid to people in need.”

He said the agreements – which include an additional $22 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund – will provide “lifeline for millions of people living in the most dangerous and difficult conditions in the world.”

Time for ‘lasting peace’

The head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi said that the commitment of donors to those affected “is at a time, as our resources for the situation are decreasing.

“Agreements will save lives and help alleviate some of the hardship. Finally, of course, only a the right peace it will allow Sudanese people to restart their lives.”

Speaking to the Human Rights Council, Hassan Hamid Hassan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sudan to the UN Geneva condemned the killing of the Governor of West Darfur Khamis Abdullah Abbaker, giving responsibility “to the rebel forces”.