{"id":20059744,"date":"2023-11-17T15:59:52","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T14:59:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/?p=20059744"},"modified":"2023-11-17T15:59:54","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T14:59:54","slug":"sudan-humanitarian-concerns-in-spotlight-at-unsc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/sudan-humanitarian-concerns-in-spotlight-at-unsc","title":{"rendered":"Sudan humanitarian concerns in spotlight at UNSC"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reviewed the report of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission \u2013 Sudan (UNITAMS) during the last three months in an open session, followed by a closed session, at its 9840th meeting in New York yesterday evening.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UNSC member states continued their discussions on a British draft resolution to renew the mandate of the UNITAMS mission<\/a> before it ends on December 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an address to the UNSC on Thursday, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, the Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO), underscored the deepening humanitarian calamity and human rights crisis in Sudan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pobee expressed concern over the conflict in Sudan that \u201chas been raging for more than seven months without signs of de-escalation\u201d. Despite declarations from both warring parties expressing a willingness to negotiate a ceasefire, recent developments on the ground suggest an intensification of hostilities, she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Darfur, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have made significant military gains, gaining control of<\/a> key Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) bases. The Assistant Secretary-General was concerned about the looming threat of an RSF advance on El Fasher<\/a> in North Darfur, \u201cwhich could result in high civilian casualties, due to the large number of internally displaced persons located there\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She highlighted that armed movements in the Juba Peace Agreement area have shifted their stance<\/a> away from neutrality. Reports of \u201cethnically driven violence<\/a> directed towards the Masalit community\u201d in West Darfur further exacerbate the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pobee explained that despite challenges, the UN and humanitarian partners have provided life-saving assistance to 4.1 million people, \u201cbut this is only 22 per cent of the people that humanitarian organizations aim to assist in 2023\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSudan is facing a convergence of a worsening humanitarian calamity and a catastrophic human rights crisis. More than 6,000 civilians, including women and children, have been killed since April. Sudan is now the world\u2019s largest displacement crisis, with 7.1 million people displaced. The health situation<\/a> also remains extremely worrying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She emphasised the importance of engaging civilians in the political process, applauding civilian initiatives in Addis Ababa<\/a> and the Juba Peace Agreement signatories\u2019 meeting. She also raised concerns about the diminishing political participation of Sudanese women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While commending the recent talks in Jeddah<\/a>, co-facilitated by Saudi Arabia and the United States, Pobee expressed disappointment that the parties failed to reach a ceasefire agreement<\/a>, leading to an escalation of hostilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The complete statement can be found here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Video of the 9840th UNSC session can be accessed here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n