The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Press Conference - OCHA: 05 October 2023
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30:44
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MP4
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1.8 GB
STORY: Sudan Conflict Humanitarian Update: OCHA
TRT: 2 min 14s
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 5 October 2023 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Exterior medium: UN flag alley, UN Geneva
- Wide: speaker and attendees at the press conference, screens with speaker
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Clementine Nkweta-Salami, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan: “The past six months has caused untold suffering in Sudan. Some 5.4 million have fled their homes and are totally displaced within Sudan or in neighbouring countries; that’s an average of about 30,000 a day, many fleeing with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Sudan has become the world’s fastest growing displacement crisis.”
- Medium: speaker and attendees at the press conference, screens with speaker
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Clementine Nkweta-Salami, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan: “Half of Sudan’s population – 24.7 million people - now require humanitarian (assistance) and protection as conflict, displacement and disease outbreaks threaten to consume the entire country.
- Medium wide: moderator and Ms. Nkweta-Salami.
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Clementine Nkweta-Salami, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan: “I’ve met mothers in Sudan who’ve told me they don’t know where to find the next meal for their children. I’ve met families sleeping in makeshift shelters, struggling to find food and water and unable to access healthcare; their children out of school and the family breadwinners out of work.”
- Medium: journalist following proceedings.
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Clementine Nkweta-Salami, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan: “In recent weeks another shock has hit Sudan as the heavy rains and floods have affected more than 70,000 people across seven states.
- Medium-wide: journalists attending the press conference.
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Clementine Nkweta-Salami, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan: “And as the fighting spreads, we are receiving reports of increasing cases sexual and gender-based violence, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and grave violations of human and children’s rights.”
- Medium: journalist looking down at laptop (out of shot) during press conference.
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Clementine Nkweta-Salami, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan: “Three thousand metric tonnes of aid supplies were delivered by 66 trucks across six states, but we need to be able to deliver much more, safely, repeatedly and fast. We need to reach 18 million people and we will not give up on that target.”
- Wide: speaker addressing journalists from podium, reverse shot.
- Medium: journalist turning to look at podium.
- Medium-wide: journalists following press conference.
Sudan conflict creates world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis: OCHA
As heavy fighting continues in Sudan, the UN’s top aid official in the country warned on Thursday that the conflict has created “the world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis” which threatens to outstrip the Organization’s best efforts to help those most in need.
“The past six months have caused untold suffering in Sudan” and forced more than 5.4 million people from their homes, said Clementine Nkweta-Salami, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan.
Speaking to journalists in Geneva, the UN official noted that approximately 30,000 a day have fled fighting, “some fleeing with nothing but the clothes on their backs”.
Ms. Nkweta-Salami continued: “I’ve met mothers in Sudan who’ve told me they don’t know where to find the next meal for their children. I’ve met families sleeping in makeshift shelters, struggling to find food and water and unable to access healthcare; their children out of school and the family breadwinners out of work.”
Conflict ‘could consume entire country’
Half of Sudan’s population – 24.7 million people - now require humanitarian assistance and protection, the UN official continued, before warning that conflict, displacement and disease outbreaks now “threaten to consume the entire country”.
Last month, the UN and partners delivered 3,000 tonnes of lifesaving aid supplies using 66 trucks across six states. “But we need to be able to deliver much more, safely, repeatedly and fast,” Ms. Nkweta-Salami insisted. “We need to reach 18 million people and we will not give up on that target.”
Harvests under threat
Clashes involving heavy weaponry and airstrikes broke out on 15 April between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Fighting initially focused in and around the capital, Khartoum, along with the Darfur region, but Ms. Nkweta-Salami expressed concerns that the conflict could spread to Gezira state, Sudan's breadbasket.
“This would have great consequences for food security,” she said, noting that the violence “has already crippled Sudan's health sector, with 70 per cent of all hospitals no longer functional”.
Humanitarians are equally concerned about reports of increasing cases of sexual and gender-based violence, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and grave violations of human and children's rights.
Cholera ‘near impossible to control’
In addition to the destruction of war which is believed likely to have claimed thousands of lives including 19 aid workers to date, Sudan’s people have also faced further shocks in recent weeks as heavy rains and floods have affected more than 70,000 people across seven states, prompting concerns of a spike in waterborne diseases.
A cholera outbreak has been declared in the eastern state of Gedaref and humanitarians are already investigating whether it has spread to Khartoum and South Kordofan.
“With fighting escalating, it may be near impossible to control,” Ms. Nkweta-Salami said, as she called on the warring parties to recommit to previous pledges to “de-escalate fighting, minimize civilian harm and refrain from any disproportionate attacks”.
Humanitarians ‘pushing the limits’
Delivering aid in a warzone is extremely complicated, dangerous and time-consuming, often involving negotiations with various armed groups for access to remote communities, the UN official explained.
Despite these challenges, she insisted that relief teams were stepping up efforts to reach Sudan’s most vulnerable communities. “We have a very committed humanitarian team on the ground, we are trying to push the limits of our ability to reach some of these hard-to-reach areas. And I think if we get a strong not only commitment, but a commitment that is translated today into positive action by all the parties to this conflict, then hopefully we will have no longer deaths amongst humanitarian workers.”
ends
Teleprompter
Good morning everyone here in the room and joining us online for today's press briefing on Sudan and the humanitarian situation there, which is very, very serious.
I'm very happy that we have with us today Clementine Inquita Salami, who is the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan.
She is here in Geneva for a few days.
Otherwise she is based in Port Sudan with the rest of of the UN team there.
So we will hear her introductory remarks and then we will go immediately to your questions as usual.
So over to you.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Yens.
[Other language spoken]
The past six months has caused untold suffering in Sudan.
Some 5.4 million have fled their homes and are totally displaced within Sudan or in neighbouring countries.
That's an average of about 30,000 a day.
Many fleeing with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Sudan has become the world's fastest growing displacement crisis.
I've talked to many of these people, the displaced who told me how their lives have been completely upended.
I've met mothers in Sudan who've told me they don't know where to find the next meal for their children.
I've met families sleeping in makeshift shelters, struggling to find food and water, unable to access healthcare, their children out of school and the family breadwinners out of work.
Half of Sudan's population, 24.7 million people, now require humanitarian and protection as the conflict, displacement and disease outbreaks threaten to consume the entire country.
The conflict has already crippled Sudan's health sector, with 70% of all hospitals no longer functional.
The conflict and we fear could reach areas like Jazeera state Sudan's bread basket.
This would have great consequences for food security and as the fighting spreads, we are receiving reports of increasing cases of sexual and gender based violence, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and grave violations of human and children's rights.
In recent weeks another shock has hit Sudan as the heavy rains and floods have affected more than 70,000 people across 7 states.
I am concerned that this could lead to more outbreaks of water borne diseases.
There is already a cholera outbreak declared in the eastern state of Gadarif and we are investigating it if it is spread to Khartoum and S Kordofan.
Battling a cholera outbreak in a war zone is difficult at the best of times.
With fighting escalating, it may be near impossible to control.
Four months ago, the parties meeting in Sudan committed to de escalate that committed to de escalate the fighting, minimise civilian harm and refrain from any disproportionate attacks.
But since then, the killing of civilians has continued in Khartoum, in Nyala, in Al Fascia and other areas.
Just two weeks ago, scores were injured in an attack on a crowded market in southern Khartoum.
I call once again on the parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and take immediate steps to safeguard civilians.
The humanitarian response is a lifeline for millions of people.
UN aid organisations have reached at least 3.6 million people working with and through Sudanese humanitarian workers, civil society organisations, non governmental organisations, including the emergency response rule.
I applaud our Sudanese partners without whom little could be achieved.
We have been able to deliver assistance through a cross-border mechanism from Chad and into Darfur.
In mid-september, nearly 30,000 metric tonnes, excuse me, 3000 metric tonnes of aid supplies were delivered by 66 trucks across 6 states.
But we need to be able to deliver much more safely, repeatedly and fast.
We need to reach 18 million people and we will not give up on that target, but we need more international support, better access to the people who need us and safety for our operations.
[Other language spoken]
It is unacceptable and it is unlawful.
We also need to see an end to interference from the conflict parties in our operations, including forced cheques of humanitarian trucks and mandatory military presence during the loading process in Port Sudan and Jazeera.
I hope that we will see swift action to reduce bureaucratic obstacles, including delays in visa approvals for staff, as promised by Sudanese authorities in a donor meeting yesterday.
Lastly, a word on funding.
The 2.6 billion humanitarian appeal is just one third funded.
I thank those donors who have stepped up and urge all donors to increase funding to bridge the funding gap for organisations providing critical assistance.
This includes support for the Sudan, Sudan Humanitarian Fund, which provides funding to our national partners, the people of Sudan.
The population of Sudan is balancing on a knife's edge as their country is gradually consumed by this conflict.
We need the parties to live up to their commitments and live up to their obligations.
We need the world to show much more solidarity as we may witness Sudan falling off the Cliff.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much to the Humanitarian Coordinator.
I just want to mention that we will share these these remarks with you immediately after the the briefing.
Let me see if there are any questions in the room and we go to a chance France Press first, please introduce yourself before you ask the question.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
For taking my question, Christopher Jean, France Press.
Here in Geneva I had a question about the aid.
Workers, do you sense that they have been?
Deliberately targeted those who died.
Or have been injured.
And also, could you just tell?
[Other language spoken]
Concrete, very concrete way what the lack of funding means, you know we talk about.
Hundreds of 1,000,000 billions.
[Other language spoken]
Sense of.
What does it mean to?
[Other language spoken]
Of what you need.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
In relation to the humanitarian actors, I think it's difficult for me to say or to voice an opinion as to whether they were deliberately targeted.
Clearly, we are operating in an environment in which there is **** insecurity, but we do know that in many instances our efforts are being Hanford.
As I mentioned before, we try to indicate where it is we will be and what we will in many aspects be doing.
And as you recall, there is an agreement agreed at the Jeddah platform to ensure that all humanitarian actors have unhindered access to the populations.
We've also asked that these populations also have unhindered access to us.
We have a very committed humanitarian team on the ground.
We are trying to push the limits of our ability to reach some of these hard to to reach areas.
And I think if we get a strong not only commitment but a commitment that is translated into positive action by all the parties to this conflict, then hopefully we will have no longer deaths amongst humanitarian workers.
Having said that, we do also have reports in which those actors on the ground are being detained or they're having some of their action interfered with.
And that is something that we will continue to denounce and we will continue, as I said, to request that our access is unimpeded.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, Catherine.
The financing, yes, very recently where was a **** level event in, in New York and we do have a document on the cost of inaction.
What does this mean?
Food malnutrition, we're seeing **** incidences of malnutrition.
Health, the health systems are struggling to address the additional populations that have fled to Sudan.
We need additional resources for dialysis machines, hospital equipment.
Those are some of the areas that we need to target at this point in time.
We have a recent cholera outbreak, cholera outbreak caused by ability to be able to deliver sufficient water, water and sanitation and to provide the crucial equipment that we need to be able to make sure that at least from a health perspective, we are able to reduce or stave off some of these issues.
We also have **** incidences of malaria, dengue, and we're trying to address this additional resources.
We'll make sure that we are able to provide the medical equipment as well as the medicines.
We're able to expand our wash capacity on the ground and we're able to also make sure that we can provide the much needed protection for the women, children and the most vulnerable of the population.
Thank you very much.
And Catherine?
Thank you, Catherine Fionn combo conga France Vancatra.
Madam, could you give us a bit more details about your fear regarding the ID?
PS If I'm not mistaken, you have for the moment 5.4 million internal displaced people.
So what is the future, What the future looks like?
And also about refugees, you mentioned Shad and Darfur, but we know that refugees are also going to other countries like CAR, Central African Republic.
There was an appeal or there was 1 billion an appeal or I don't remember, about 1 billion for the five countries that are hosting refugees.
Is it enough?
[Other language spoken]
What does the future looks like?
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
Of course, the consequences of a conflict such as the one that we are experiencing in Sudan has led to significant displacement, as you rightly say, in the neighbouring countries.
The Humanitarian response Appeal is seeking support not only for those displaced internally, but as well as those who have crossed international borders and have sought asylum in the neighbouring countries.
In terms of the IDP's, my biggest fear is that the absence of resources will not allow us to provide a response that is commensurate with the needs.
We have large displacement in the north, in the River Nile state and in the eastern part of the country.
We also have a lot of displacement in the South.
And as you know, we've had significant population movements from Darfur into Chad.
I should underline that many of these ID play peas are staying in host families.
We need to support the families that are hosting them so that they don't become a burden, and we see these individuals now being put out of these homes and having to search for shelter and accommodation within the communities.
Our efforts are really multifaceted to support those in the gathering sites, to support those in host families, and to support those as well that have left the country.
We've seen a significant brain drain.
A lot of the professionals have left Sudan.
They've sought work in neighbouring countries.
If we can provide them assistance inside of the country, then there's a likelihood that many of them will stay.
We'll give them a choice to stay and we'll be able to support them in that choice.
In terms of the refugees, we're very grateful that the neighbouring countries have opened their doors to host them.
The number is now fastly approaching 1,000,000.
We've hit the 1,000,000 mark and their fears that with some of the renewed fighting in particularly in the South in Kosti, we'll see more movements across the border there.
Of course, a mammoth effort is required to provide them with what I would say we are providing to all the displaced in this situation.
That is critical life saving assistance.
[Other language spoken]
Another question, I know that you're based in Port Sudan.
What about the fights?
We heard one or one week ago or 1010 days ago that there were fights going on in Port Sudan.
Is it true and does it jeopardise the fact that you are based in in, in Port Sudan?
Will you be able to stay in the country?
There is and has been for quite some time, some tension within the east of Sudan, among some of the tribes that are there in Port Sudan itself.
There has been no fighting, no insecurity that would warrant our departure.
And let me also perhaps make it clear that we have felt that the vast majority of our humanitarian capacity be not in Port Sudan, but dispersed throughout the country in those critical states where we have a large number of displaced persons persons.
So we will stay in Port Sudan just really from an administrative perspective to manage the teams that are responsible for backing up.
But most of our frontline support, most of our critical support is in the field.
That is where we have the bulk of not only UN capacity but also iron Geo capacity as well.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Sorry, Gabrielle Tetrofabe, Reuters news agency.
I'm just wondering if you could elaborate a little bit on the interference from conflict parties in the operations, if you have any concrete examples of how that has affected the ability to get aid across to people who need it it.
Would you say it's just slowing down the operation or is it an outright obstruction?
And if you could maybe say it's coming from both sides, if there's more from one side or another, just more details on the interference?
[Other language spoken]
In a, in a conflict such as, as, as this, we're dealing with a number of actors.
We have, of course, the two parties that are directly engaged in the conflict.
But Sudan, as it stands, has a number of armed groups operating in various parts of the country.
We are presently bringing in core relief items, humanitarian assistance through 2 main axis, the Chad Darfur acts and the Port Sudan acts.
And we're trying to use a particular route to get the assistance we bring in through the country and dispersed in those key states where there is a need to do this.
We have to negotiate with all sides to the conflict.
We have to negotiate with the 2 main actors.
We have to negotiate with some of the armed groups, the communities and even the criminals.
So sometimes the interference that takes place depends on who it is in charge of that particular location, who is manning that particular route.
We've had incidents in which our trucks have been looted.
We've negotiated with whoever has control and in some cases, a few cases, the items have been returned to the trucks.
But it's a 24 hour, 24/7 process.
It's a team working on the ground.
We had also some of the team working in Jeddah and trying to engage with all the actors to make sure that our our teams could operate and the items could reach their destination.
It does mean that it takes a long time, takes a long time and we're not at this point able to have an operation that, as I said, is commensurate to the scale.
So if we can get more cooperation, if we can make sure that these actors abide by their operation, by their obligations, if we can make sure that we have the capacity to bring relief items into the country, then hopefully we can scale up in a meaningful way and make sure we reach the populations in a timely manner.
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
Jack Jeffrey, Associated Press.
Over to you.
[Other language spoken]
So I would just like to follow up on the question that's been asked.
You actually more about the cheques on your convoys that are coming through either from Port Sudan or across the border from Chad.
Could you elaborate a little bit more on the problems these?
[Other language spoken]
We have the operation in Chad and that we're facing a myriad of challenges in trying to bring in assistance directly into Darfur.
In that area, there are large numbers of of Arab militias and we have to negotiate with them for these convoys to move in an unimpeded, unimpeded manner.
The UN international teams are not present in Darfur.
So we move into Darfur as and when required and when we feel we've have in place the necessary mechanisms to allow us to deliver assistance and to have that assistance distributed either to our the NGOs or to the communities in which with which we are working.
Along all these routes, we face sometimes checkpoints, we face sometimes militias who don't want us to move forward.
But we do have, as I said before, we do have dedicated teams on the ground who are part of these convoys who are able to negotiate and who are able to, through these negotiations, have the items move forward.
If we get news that there are any significant challenges in moving forward, then we try to suspend our movements, negotiate.
And be certain that if we do hit the road, we will be able to take them to the final destination.
So it is an ongoing process.
[Other language spoken]
What we may encounter today may not be the same situation tomorrow, but we're doing it as and when it is possible to try and make sure that we can address the needs of the populations in that location.
[Other language spoken]
Yes, I just wanted.
[Other language spoken]
Just have a very tiny brief answer you about how that differs from the how that differs from the cheques coming in from from Port Sudan.
So it's very, very clear with Darfur, but with the aid from Port Sudan dispersing into other northern eastern areas, I'm still a little unsure on what the main obstacles are.
Could could you repeat the question?
But the audio is is not that good.
So please speak up and repeat the question.
[Other language spoken]
So thank you very much for your answer on on the aid coming through the chat for that's very clear.
But I'm still a little bit confused on what the major barrier is with aid coming through Port Sudan and into the northern and eastern parts of the country.
[Other language spoken]
So if you could explain what may be the differences are between the two problems and barriers slightly, that would be great.
I think in response to your question, the differences are are somewhat similar.
We are still having to negotiate access.
Access is a big issue for for us.
[Other language spoken]
So there are a multiple, multiple actors that we need to negotiate with for the convoys to move forward in Darfur.
It's it's a less, I would say a less structured group, but we still have to negotiate.
I wouldn't say one side is more difficult than the other.
I think there are larger stretches along the Port Sudan route of security, whereas there are fewer stretches of security alongs the Darfur route.
And there's an unpredictability in terms of the various actors that we are dealing with.
But each route is equally complicated, and each route has its own challenges, and the challenges are somewhat similar in certain aspects and different in others.
[Other language spoken]
If we could open the microphone for Peter Kenny works for African Media.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you for taking my question.
I'm just wondering if Miss Niquita Salami, if you know of any tools that are available to the UN to get the two warring parties together and to enforce the agreements, or can you just.
See that as things stand.
That you're going to continue existing in what seems to be a kind of anarchistic quagmire.
We are exploring opportunities that allow us to engage directly with the two parties.
We had the Jeddah platform and that was a platform that allowed us to access them directly and to get agreements and commitments from them.
We are hoping that there will be a Jeddah platform resuscitated.
[Other language spoken]
That will once again give us direct access to the parties.
That is what we have in place now.
We are still trying to explore other platforms, other mechanisms that we can use when we do have egregious violations of these conventions.
And of course, we denounce them, we call them out and we try and make sure that through our interventions, the parties understand what their responsibilities are.
So in terms of tools, that's what we have.
That's what we hope.
If the Jeddah platform is is brought about Jeddah 2, that will be the main opportunity for us to engage with the actors and to make sure that they understand what we're doing.
And as I said before, that they also uphold their own obligations.
Thank you, Lisa Shrine, Voice of America.
[Other language spoken]
Good morning to you and to Madame.
[Other language spoken]
Why are you here and not in Sudan?
Are you here trying to raise money or interest in this tragic situation?
And then more on the negotiations to follow up on my colleague Peter Kenny.
Do you think that perhaps the the war has taken on a a life of itself?
And do you see this conflict going on for a very long time?
Because as you mentioned, the rebel generals don't seem to be keeping their promises.
And then you have any number of other militia which are fighting on who may not be under the control in any way of the rebel generals.
And we'll just continue fighting.
[Other language spoken]
I hate to use the word optimism, and I won't, but what is your outlook?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I've been in Port Sudan since June, working with the teams on the ground and trying to ensure proper coordination of our activities.
I'm here in Geneva to engage with some of the permanent missions and some of the humanitarian agencies and the international NGOs around the situation, to shed some visibility on the challenges we're facing, but also to seek their support and trying to address some of the problems, as well as, of course, to mobilise resources because we are very, very underfunded.
And also to highlight what we've been able to do in terms of the funding that we've received in terms of the situation itself and the negotiations that are taking place.
As a humanitarian, I remain optimistic, but clearly with each month that this conflict continues without some resolution, some sense of the parties having discussions around ceasefires, around cessation of hostilities, around permanent ceasefires, then there is a risk that we will find ourselves in a protracted situation.
There's also a risk that we're beginning to see that if this situation is not not brought to an end, that it will have a spillover effect in the region.
And that is something we we must and we should avoid.
Thank you very much.
I'm just looking in the room and online.
I don't see any other hands up, so I sorry, pardon me.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
People in Sudan and they asked them to if they they, they get the humanitarian aid.
Unfortunately, a lot of people, they didn't receive your humanitarian assistance.
Have you been able to reach those who are in need in Sudan?
Thank you very much.
Our ability to to meet the overall needs of those who find themselves in a displacement situation is of course something that is at the forefront of our minds.
We haven't, we have a target population of 18,000,000 and we're gradually with each month reaching more and more people.
But I am very aware that there are many people that we haven't yet been able to to respond effectively and efficiently to.
We are focused in a number of States and we hope to expand to the Northern states, to the Nile states as also to the court of facts.
In some of these states.
We face significant challenges around security, but we are committed to delivering regardless of these challenges and what we are trying to do is trying to reflect on the mechanisms we can put in place if we cannot physically be there ourselves, the networks that we can exploit to get assistance to those in need.
My concern and one of the reasons I hear I will hear is also, as I said, to mobilise additional resources, to mobilise commitment around moving the bureaucratic and administrative impediments so we can scale up.
We are in the process of scaling up.
We need more people on the ground, We need more assistance coming in so that we can reach some of these people that you've been speaking to who to date have not been served.
Thank you very much and thanks for your for for your question.
I don't see any more questions online or in the room.
So I think we will grab it up here.
Clementine Uqita, Tsunami Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, Resident and Human Chain Coordinator in Sudan.
Thank you very much for coming.
We hope, of course, to see you back here in in Geneva soon again, so we can have another opportunity with the press.
So thank you very much to you in the room and everyone online.