United States: The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres, is dispatching a representative to the Sudan region in response to the ongoing and “unprecedented” violence that has persisted for three weeks, according to his spokesperson’s announcement. The move reflects the UN’s concern and commitment to resolving the deadly hostilities in the region.
Despite the extension of a ceasefire that has been widely ignored, the military and heavily armed paramilitary groups in Khartoum remain locked in deadly conflict, as reported at the time of the announcement regarding the dispatch of a UN representative to the region.
In a statement made separately on, Mr. Martin Griffiths, the UN’s Emergency Relief Coordinator and appointed envoy to the Sudan region, expressed grave concern regarding the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding there. Mr. Griffiths stated that the situation has reached a critical point and urgent action is needed to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.
Since the outbreak of hostilities on 15th April 2023 in the Sudan region, over 500 individuals have lost their lives and tens of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes, seeking refuge either within Sudan or in other countries.
According to Mr. Griffiths, families in the Sudan region are facing tremendous challenges in accessing basic necessities such as water, food, and fuel. The situation is so dire that some individuals are unable to leave the worst-affected areas due to the exorbitant cost of transportation to safer locations.
Mr. Griffiths emphasized that the availability of essential healthcare services in the Sudan region is severely limited, thereby increasing the risk of preventable fatalities. Furthermore, Mr. Griffiths noted that five shipments of critical emergency supplies, including intravenous fluids, are currently waiting for clearance by authorities at Port Sudan.