25 million Sudanese in need of assistance and protection: UN
November 12, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – As fighting continues raging in Sudan, over half of its population or 25 million people need assistance and protection, a top United Nations official said.
Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan said civilians have suffered through almost seven months of intense conflict and a humanitarian tragedy that only grows bleaker by the day.
“More than 6 million people have fled their homes and are displaced inside Sudan or in neighboring countries. They are not just numbers; they are individuals whose lives have been uprooted and changed forever,” said Nkweta-Salami.
She added, “The Statement of Commitments adopted in Jeddah earlier in the week by the parties to the conflict in Sudan marks a moment of truth for the country. We owe it to the people of Sudan to ensure that the promises made by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to protect civilians and provide unimpeded humanitarian access are kept.”
These obligations include protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure, said the UN official.
“But as we have seen since the conflict erupted in April, very little has been spared – even hospitals have been attacked, destroyed or occupied. We have recently received disturbing reports about escalating violence and attacks against civilians – including what appears to be on an ethnic basis in Darfur,” she stated
Added the UN official .“I will continue to call for all parties to Sudan’s conflict to abide by their obligations under International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. This is not optional. These attacks should cease, and those responsible be held accountable.”
According to the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, the spread of fighting to Al Jazirah State, Sudan’s breadbasket, could push even more people into hunger.
Also mentioned in the top UN official’s statement is the poor health sector, amid concerns that over 70% of health facilities in conflict areas are out of service.
This is extremely worrying, not least given ongoing disease outbreaks such as cholera, dengue, malaria, and measles. We keep saying that the situation is horrific and grim, but frankly, we are running out of words to describe the horror of what is happening in Sudan”, Nkweta-Salami stressed..
She added, “We continue to receive unrelenting and appalling reports of sexual and gender-based violence, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detentions, and grave violations of human and children’s rights. What is happening is verging on pure evil. The protection of civilians continues to be of major concern.”
Funding, the official said, is also a major issue and so far the UN has received just over a third of the $2.6 billion needed for this year’s humanitarian response.
(ST)