US Senate hears urgent plea from envoy to Sudan

In a testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington D.C., US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello, issued a stark warning about the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan, yesterday. Perriello emphasised the urgent need for action to prevent further escalation of conflict and humanitarian suffering.

The situation in Sudan is already catastrophic, with millions displaced, widespread violence, and the looming threat of famine. Perriello highlights the disproportionate impact of the conflict on women and children, who are subjected to atrocities such as rape and sexual violence.

“Women and girls have borne the brunt of many of the abuses. Certainly, the horrific and systematic use of rape as a weapon of war but also the issues of famine and starvation and displacement.”

Despite the severity of the crisis, Sudan remains largely overlooked by the international community. The American envoy underscored the importance of increased awareness and support from the media and urged for sustained humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of millions of Sudanese people. 

The root of the crisis lies in the ongoing conflict between armed factions, particularly the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which have been accused of war crimes and atrocities. Perriello called for accountability for those responsible for these violations of international law.

“We literally don’t know how many people have died, possibly to a factor of 10 or 15. The number was mentioned earlier 15 to 30,000. Some think it’s at 150,000. We are now supporting a couple of efforts. To use methodologies to document and get to that so we at least know what kind of consequences we’re looking at here.”

While humanitarian aid is crucial, Perriello stressed that the only lasting solution to the crisis is to end the war. He outlined three key strategies aimed at achieving peace: elevating U.S leadership on Sudan, building regional political will for a peace deal, and increasing pressure on parties fuelling the conflict.

Perriello expressed hope for a peaceful resolution but warned that time is running out. He urged swift action from the international community to prevent Sudan from descending further into chaos and called on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to continue its support for the people of Sudan and the efforts of the Special Envoy.