More than 8 million people have been forcibly displaced by the fighting, and millions more are in need of food and humanitarian aid.
The United Nations Security Council has called for a ceasefire in Sudan to coincide with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, so the humanitarian response can reach breaking point and help reach 25 million people in desperate need of food. I asked him to do it.
On Friday, 14 members of the 15-nation Council supported a resolution proposed by the UK, but did not vote on a resolution calling for “all parties to the conflict to seek a sustainable solution to the conflict through dialogue”. Only Russia abstained.
Fighting has been intensifying in Sudan since April 15, 2023, pitting General Abdul Fattah al-Burhan's forces against General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedi” Dagalo's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Since then, tens of thousands of people have been killed, 8.3 million people have been forcibly displaced, and fighting has destroyed infrastructure and paralyzed the economy.
Britain's deputy UN ambassador James Kariuki called on the Sudanese military and RSF to “act on this united international call for peace and silence the sounds of gunfire”.
The resolution called on all sides to adopt an immediate “cessation of hostilities” ahead of Ramadan, a time of fasting, prayer and reflection for Muslims around the world.
It called on parties to the conflict to allow “unimpeded” humanitarian access across borders and fronts.
The resolution also expressed “grave concern at the widespread violence and the devastating and deteriorating humanitarian situation, including severe food insecurity at or above crisis levels, particularly in Darfur.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Thursday that the conflict threatens Sudan's unity and “could cause regional instability on a dramatic scale”, adding that both countries “respect the Ramadan cessation of hostilities”. “We should respect the values of Ramadan by doing so.”
The African Union also supported a cessation of fighting during Ramadan, which is expected to begin on or about Monday depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.
Mr al-Burhan reportedly welcomed the UN Secretary-General's appeal, while Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Friday setting out conditions for the ceasefire to take effect, including for the RSF to withdraw from the provinces under its control. Ta. There was no response from RSF.
“Road to Hunger”
Russia claimed the British initiative was hypocritical because the Security Council did not call for an immediate ceasefire in Israel's war against Gaza, as the United States repeatedly vetoed the resolution.
“We have no illusions about the true intentions of the Western countries. But given that the same countries are prolonging the adoption of a cease-fire document in the Gaza Strip, where real genocide is taking place, we have no illusions. The criteria seem particularly clear,” said Russia's Deputy UN Ambassador Anna Evstinyeva.
UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said access to humanitarian aid in Sudan needed to be improved, regardless of a ceasefire declaration.
Mr Griffiths said half of the country's 50 million people were in need of aid, with “just under 18 million on the path to hunger” and a further 10 million “lower than the same time last year”. also falls under the category of food insecurity,” he added. ”.
The UN's $2.7 billion humanitarian response plan for Sudan in 2024 is currently only 4% funded.
“We don't have any money,” Griffiths said. “We want to put Sudan on the map.”
