Sudan: Guterres urges donors to boost aid response to halt death, destruction

A UN-led appeal for funding to help the people of Sudan raised $1.5 billion on Monday as UN chief António Guterres warned that the country was descending “into death and destruction” at breakneck speed.

Addressing donors at a pledging event in Geneva convened by the UN with Egypt, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the African Union and the European Union, Mr. Guterres said that some $3 billion was needed to assist people in Sudan and those who have fled to neighbouring countries.

“The scale and speed of Sudan’s descent into death and destruction is unprecedented,” he warned. “Without strong international support, Sudan could quickly become a locus of lawlessness, radiating insecurity across the region.”

Devastating toll

Speaking via video message as a new temporary ceasefire between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was coming into effect, the UN chief said that hundreds of civilians had been killed and many thousands more injured since clashes erupted in mid-April.

“These numbers grow by the day. The situation in Darfur and Khartoum is catastrophic. Fighting is raging with people attacked in their homes and on the street,” Mr. Guterres said.

“Before this conflict erupted, Sudan was already grappling with a humanitarian crisis. This has now escalated into a catastrophe affecting more than half the country’s people.”

The UN Secretary-General insisted that it was the international community’s duty to support the people of Sudan and neighbouring countries.

He also condemned violence against aid workers and the looting of humanitarian supplies, appealing to the warning parties to protect civilians and enable humanitarian action, in line with international law.

Streets ‘stained with blood’

Echoing that message, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk reiterated his willingness to mediate between both parties to the conflict. “I have also urged all States to help advance a resolution to this catastrophe. Yet efforts to pursue and sustain a ceasefire have produced little to no success. We still see a reckless, senseless conflict taking place in a context of total impunity. The streets of Khartoum and its surrounding cities, of El Geneina and of El Obeid are stained with the blood of civilians.”

Mr. Türk said that he was appalled by allegations of sexual violence, including rape, noting that his Office had received credible reports of 18 incidents of sexual violence related to the conflict against at least 53 women and girls – the victims include at least 10 girls.

In one case, 18-20 women were reportedly raped in the same attack. In almost all cases, the RSF was identified as the perpetrator. But there is little access to medical and psychosocial support and many cases remain unreported.

Sudan’s young pay highest price

“This is a human rights and humanitarian crisis that is unfolding at an alarming rate, on a devastating scale and with a complexity not seen before in Sudan”, said the UN Human Rights Chief.

“Every day, children are bearing the harrowing consequences, with more than 13 million across the country in urgent need of lifesaving humanitarian support, including 5.6 million in Darfur. At least 620,000 are reported to be suffering from acute malnutrition.”

Ceasefire welcomed

Mr. Türk welcomed the new 72-hour nationwide ceasefire agreed on 17 June and urged the two parties to respect their commitments to halt the fighting and to allow the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout the country.

“The new ceasefire is a new opportunity to put an end to this sea of suffering. I remind the two parties of their obligations to respect international humanitarian and human rights law and to take all measures necessary to protect all civilians -- including humanitarian and medical workers - from harm.”

The UN rights chief also called on the authorities to conduct prompt, thorough, impartial, and independent investigations into all alleged violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. “I remind them that failure to pursue accountability for past grave violations has contributed to the current crisis,” he said.

Addressing the Human Rights Council, Hassan Hamid Hassan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sudan to the UN Geneva condemned the murder of West Darfur governor Khamis Abdullah Abbaker, assigning responsibility “to the rebel forces”.

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1. Medium shot, UN Palais with flags
2. Wide shot, podium of the UN Human Rights Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: “The scale and speed of Sudan’s descent into death and destruction is unprecedented. Without strong international support, Sudan could quickly become a locus of lawlessness, radiating insecurity across the region. Hundreds of civilians have been killed and many thousands more injured and these numbers grow by the day. The situation in Darfur and Khartoum is catastrophic. Fighting is raging with people attacked in their homes and on the street.”
4. Medium shot, delegates in the Human Rights Council room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: “Before this conflict erupted, Sudan was already grappling with a humanitarian crisis. This has now escalated into a catastrophe affecting more than half the country’s people. Deadly violence against aid workers and the looting of humanitarian property and supplies have made aid operations even more difficult and dangerous. Despite the challenges, United Nations agencies and our partners reached 1.8 million people with lifesaving aid in April and May.”
6. Medium shot, delegates from Soudan
7. SOUNDBITE (English) - Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “I state - again - that I am eager to speak to both parties. I have also urged all States to help advance a resolution to this catastrophe. Yet efforts to pursue and sustain a ceasefire have produced little to no success. We still see a reckless, senseless conflict taking place in a context of total impunity. The streets of Khartoum and its surrounding cities, of El Geneina and of El Obeid are stained with the blood of civilians.”
8. Pan over delegates at Human Rights Room
9. SOUNDBITE (English) - Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “This is a human rights and humanitarian crisis that is unfolding at an alarming rate, on a devastating scale and with a complexity not seen before in Sudan. Every day, children are bearing the harrowing consequences, with more than 13 million across the country in urgent need of lifesaving humanitarian support, including 5.6 million in Darfur. At least 620,000 are reported to be suffering from acute malnutrition.”
10. Wide shot, delegates at Human Rights Room
11. SOUNDBITE (English) - Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “The new ceasefire is a new opportunity to put an end to this sea of suffering. I remind the two parties of their obligations to respect international humanitarian and human rights law and to take all measures necessary to protect all civilians -- including humanitarian and medical workers -- from harm. I also call on the authorities to conduct prompt, thorough, impartial, and independent investigations into all alleged violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. I remind them that failure to pursue accountability for past grave violations has contributed to the current crisis.”
12. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) - Hassan Hamid Hassan, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Sudan to the UN Geneva: “You have all seen the atrocity of the murder of the governor Khamis Abdallah Abbakar may he rest in peace as detailed in the report of the High Commissioner today, and here I have to mention that the statement by the spokesperson of the Office of the High Commissioner on human rights regarding this event is the first statement which calls a spad a spad and that assigns responsibility to the rebel forces.”
13. Medium shot, delegate of Ethiopia
14. Wide shot, delegates at Human Rights Room
15. Medium shot, delegates at Human Rights Room