Burhan, Swiss envoy discuss humanitarian situation in Sudan
October 29, 2023 (PORT SUDAN) – Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairman of the Sovereign Council, met with Sylvain Esther, the visiting Special Swiss Envoy to the Horn of Africa, to discuss the humanitarian situation in Sudan.
The meeting took place after the Swiss government announced earlier this month that it would provide an additional 5 million francs (over 5 million Euros) to support humanitarian assistance in response to the massive displacement of civilians after the outbreak of war in Sudan last April.
“The meeting focused on internal and external efforts to end the war in Sudan. They further discussed the humanitarian situation and strategies to streamline the delivery of aid to those in need,” said a statement by the Sovereign Council after the meeting.
The extra 5 million francs will be allocated to support humanitarian initiatives implemented in Sudan (1.5 million), South Sudan (2 million), and Chad (1.5 million). The projects will be carried out by the Norwegian Refugee Council, the UN OCHA for Sudan, the WFP, and ICRC for South Sudan, and UN agencies in Chad.
Switzerland’s contributions throughout this year have exceeded 45 million dollars, and this support has been instrumental in managing the crisis in Sudan and its neighbouring countries.
The Sovereign Council said that al-Burhan told the Swiss diplomat that the Sudanese army would not be a party to any political process in the future or intervene in running the country’s independent transitional government.
The Sovereign Council stated that during the meeting, al-Burhan assured the Swiss envoy that the Sudanese army would not participate in any future political processes or interfere in the administration of the country’s independent transitional government.
On Sunday, Sudanese warring parties resumed talks on a six-month ceasefire to allow humanitarian access to civilians across the country. The process, hosted in Jeddah, is facilitated by Saudi Arabia, the United States, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the African Union.
On Sunday, Sudan’s conflicting parties resumed discussions regarding a six-month ceasefire, with the goal of permitting humanitarian access to civilians throughout the country. These talks, hosted in Jeddah, are being facilitated by Saudi Arabia, the United States, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the African Union.
(ST)