Sudan: UN-hosted talks on relief and protection of civilians to continue in Geneva
Fierce clashes erupted in April last year between rival military forces over a proposed transition to civilian rule, following a 2021 military coup and the 2019 overthrow of longtime President Omar Al-Bashir.
UN spokeswoman in Geneva Alessandra Vellucci confirmed that only one delegation attended the initial discussions after senior representatives from the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces accepted an invitation to meet. The United Nations Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra.
‘Close’ talks to continue
Despite Thursday’s failure, Mr Lamamra and his team have invited both sides to continue private discussions with him on Friday in the Swiss city, in a process known as direct negotiations.
“The fighting continues today,” said Ms. Vellucci, director of the UN Information Service at UN Geneva. “We call on them to engage… The humanitarian situation in Sudan is deteriorating day by day. So we really need to look at the devastating impact that this is having on civilians. And we call on the delegations to rise to this challenge and engage in constructive discussions.”
Humanitarian emergency
The incident comes amid growing international pressure to end a war that has displaced millions of people and raised growing fears of looming famine.
The humanitarian community has also warned of widespread unrest as the conflict spreads rapidly from the capital Khartoum to other areas including Darfur, leaving nearly 25 million people – half of Sudan’s population – in need of aid.
More than 14,000 people are believed to have been killed and 33,000 injured amid the ongoing fighting, which has also created the world’s largest displacement crisis. More than 11 million people have been forced to flee their homes, and international experts have recently warned that 755,000 people face famine in the coming months.
‘Unprecedented’ rights violations
Radhouane Nouicer, Expert Designated on Sudan of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rightsalso sounded the alarm on Friday, warning that the scale of human rights violations and abuses in Sudan is unprecedented.”
After visiting Port Sudan, Mr. Nouicer called on the Sudanese authorities to protect civilians, allow unhindered humanitarian access, end arbitrary detentions and ensure accountability for human rights violations. He stressed the need for a comprehensive peace process and the implementation of the international arms embargo on Sudan imposed by the Security Council 2005.
Sudan: WFP responds to new displacement crisis
Meanwhile, as fighting continues deeper into eastern Sudan, the United Nations World Food Programme (World food program) announced that they are increasing support for displaced people in Sennar state.
Clashes around the town of Sinja – which was reportedly captured by the RSF on 29 June – have forced tens of thousands of people to flee, exacerbating Sudan’s hunger crisis, the WFP has warned. Many have been displaced for the second or third time since the conflict began, with Sennar state home to families who had previously fled Khartoum or Al Jazirah.
WFP has prepared more than 2,200 tonnes of food for newly displaced families and is helping 40,000 people in Blue Nile and 3,000 in Gedaref. But violence in eastern Sudan is threatening to cut off vital humanitarian routes from Port Sudan and complicate aid deliveries, UN aid groups have warned.
South Sudan Lifeline
Thousands more from Sudan are also expected to flee to South Sudan, where resources are already scarce. The WFP reports that 1,000 people a day are still entering the border town of Renk; to help, the UN agency has stepped up assistance and is now assisting 1.4 million people with food and cash, with 91 new aid distribution points opened in Sudan.
WFP has continued to deliver food from Kosti to other locations in preparation for more limited access due to fighting.
