The UN Security Council has been urged to take immediate action for civilian protection in Sudan, where nearly 25 million face acute hunger and over 12 million are displaced due to intense conflict. Recent developments in North Darfur and Khartoum have further escalated violence and exacerbated humanitarian needs, prompting appeals for urgent action and funding to assist those affected.
The United Nations Security Council received a poignant appeal from Edem Wosornu, a senior official from the UN office for humanitarian affairs (OCHA), emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced protection for civilians in Sudan amidst a brutal conflict as it nears its second year. She reported widespread famine affecting over 24.6 million people and highlighted the staggering dislocation of more than 12 million individuals, with 3.4 million having fled the country. The collapse of health services and the interruption of education due to relentless violence were concerns she placed at the forefront of her briefing.
Ms. Wosornu underscored recent developments in North Darfur, particularly regarding the deteriorating situation at the Zamzam displacement camp, where residents are enduring severe conditions of famine. She noted that despite a prior resolution by the Council aimed at alleviating the siege in El Fasher, civilians continue to face attacks, and there have been confirmed instances of heavy weaponry and market destruction proliferating in the area.
Matter-of-factly, she noted that civilians remain vulnerable amid fierce fighting in Khartoum, creating an environment ripe with reports of summary executions verified by the UN’s human rights office. Additionally, she alerted to escalating violence encroaching into southern states of North Kordofan and South Kordofan, posing further risks to civilian populations and impeding humanitarian aid efforts.
In response to this dire situation, Ms. Wosornu referred to the recent launch of a humanitarian response plan calling for $6 billion to assist nearly 25 million individuals in Sudan and another five million in neighboring regions. She appealed to the international community, particularly Security Council members, to proactively engage in mitigating the humanitarian crisis.
Ms. Wosornu concluded her remarks by outlining three pivotal requests to the Security Council: first, immediate action to adhere to international humanitarian law; next, robust measures to guarantee unfettered humanitarian access to those in need; and finally, an urgent mobilization of international funding to meet the unprecedented requirements of the Sudanese populace.
The humanitarian crisis in Sudan reached an alarming juncture, with significant civilian suffering resulting from prolonged conflict. Ms. Wosornu’s calls for action spotlight the necessity for international engagement to uphold humanitarian law, ensure aid access, and address funding gaps. The Security Council is urged to act decisively to protect civilians and alleviate the overarching distress inflicted by the ongoing conflict within the region.
Original Source: news.un.org
