Civil society groups urge to prioritize civilian protection in Sudan

October 30, 2024 (WASHINGTON) – A coalition of Sudanese and international civil society groups on Wednesday called for the international community to prioritize the protection of civilians in Sudan’s escalating conflict.

In a joint statement, the groups criticized the current focus on humanitarian aid delivery, arguing that the immediate physical safety of civilians should be paramount.

“Protecting civilians must be the core of all efforts to mitigate the crisis,” the statement said. “Humanitarian aid is meaningless if the people who need it are not safe.”

The coalition urged a stronger emphasis on enforcing International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and called for concrete action to protect civilians trapped in conflict zones, areas controlled by warring parties, and those who have fled to neighbouring countries.

The statement condemned what it called the “political exploitation” of the crisis and urged key international actors, including the African Union and the United Nations, to develop a “concrete, actionable framework” for civilian protection.

“International inaction is exacerbating the suffering,” the statement warned. “Stakeholders must engage in consultations to identify feasible ways to protect Sudanese civilians.”

The coalition stressed that simply calling for a ceasefire is not enough and called for a more proactive approach to ensure civilian safety.

The signatories include, among others, Fikra for Studies and Development, The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA), the African Organization for Rights and Development, The Sentry, Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker, Society for Threatened Peoples, Germany and Genocide Watch.