{"id":20120048,"date":"2025-08-21T15:35:30","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T13:35:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/?p=20120048"},"modified":"2025-08-21T15:36:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T13:36:16","slug":"undp-condemns-sudan-humanitarian-attacks-as-stain-on-our-collective-conscience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/undp-condemns-sudan-humanitarian-attacks-as-stain-on-our-collective-conscience","title":{"rendered":"UNDP condemns Sudan humanitarian attacks as \u2018stain on our collective conscience\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) marked World Humanitarian Day on 19 August by highlighting the staggering toll on aid workers in Sudan, where at least 120 humanitarian staff were killed. UNDP Resident Representative in Sudan Luca Renda issued a statement from Port Sudan underscoring the significance of the day.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement<\/a>\u00a0on Monday, Renda highlighted that \u201csince the current conflict began in April 2023, more than 120 humanitarian personnel have been killed- nearly all of them Sudanese.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renda stressed that these figures \u201care more than just statistics.\u201d He highlighted that the victims were medics, drivers, volunteers, and other staff who showed up daily to serve their communities with courage and compassion. He described their deaths as \u201ca stain on our collective conscience and a stark reminder of the growing dangers faced by those delivering life-saving aid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UNDP Sudan representative urged parties to \u201cguarantee safe and unimpeded access, and ensure that humanitarian personnel can operate safely, independently and without interference.\u201d He condemned the pattern of violations and impunity, warning: \u201cEvery red line crossed is met with impunity, indifference and failure to act. This must stop.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He appealed to donors to \u201cincrease flexible funding to sustain and scale up life-saving operations across the country,\u201d adding: \u201cToday, we relaunch the global call to #ActForHumanity. They have not given up, and neither must we.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global figures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Provisional figures, according to the *Aid Worker Security Database, indicate 265 aid workers killed in the first eight months of 2025, as of August 14, 2025.\u00a0Violence against aid workers<\/a>\u00a0increased across 21 countries, with state actors the most common perpetrators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UN stressed that such attacks violate international humanitarian law and recalled\u00a0Security Council Resolution 2730<\/a>\u00a0from May 2024, which reaffirmed obligations to protect humanitarian personnel and called for independent investigations into violations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA shocking new record of 383 aid workers killed in 2024 must be a wake-up call to protect all civilians in conflict and crisis and call time on impunity. Attacks on humanitarian workers, assets and operations violate international humanitarian law and undermine the lifelines that sustain millions of people trapped in war and disaster zones,\u201d the\u00a0OCHA statement<\/a>\u00a0read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher condemned the surge in attacks on aid workers, stating: \u201cEven one attack against a humanitarian colleague is an attack on all of us and on the people we serve.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fletcher described the scale of violence with as \u201ca shameful indictment of international inaction and apathy,\u201d and insisted \u201cViolence against aid workers is not inevitable. It must end.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added, \u201cAs the humanitarian community, we demand – again- that those with power and influence act for humanity, protect civilians and aid workers and hold perpetrators to account.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s theme Strengthening Global Solidarity and Empowering Local Communities<\/em>, highlights Sudan as an example of why such solidarity is not an abstract principle, but a matter of survival. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe global\u00a0#ActForHumanity<\/a>\u00a0campaign is relaunched with added urgency, calling on the public to stand with humanitarians, demand protection and support the lifelines they provide,\u201d according to OCHA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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*The Aid Worker Security Database<\/a>, the sole comprehensive global record of attacks on aid workers since 1997, tracks killings, kidnappings and injuries, providing the evidence behind this appeal.<\/em><\/p>\n