UN chief Antonio Guterres calls for an end to arms supplies in Sudan to protect civilians amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis. The UAE has proposed a humanitarian pause for aid delivery, pledging $200 million for assistance. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, remains severe with significant casualties and displacements.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged for the cessation of weapon supplies to Sudan, highlighting their role in exacerbating the ongoing conflict there. Speaking at a meeting during the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, he stated that it is imperative to protect civilians, facilitate safe humanitarian access, and halt the influx of arms.
Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, it has led to significant loss of life and displacement, with over 12 million individuals forced to flee their homes. Guterres described the situation as an unprecedented humanitarian crisis affecting the African continent, which has already resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities.
Moussa Faki, chair of the African Union, echoed the call for all combatants to implement a permanent cease-fire, asserting that this conflict represents a profound moral failure. The United Arab Emirates added that it supports a humanitarian pause during the upcoming Ramadan period to allow for aid distribution.
UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Reem al-Hashimy, emphasized the war’s prolonged nature and the suffering it has inflicted, particularly on women and children. She expressed hopes that a humanitarian pause would facilitate unhindered aid delivery, announcing a pledge of an additional $200 million in humanitarian assistance for Sudan.
Despite these efforts, US lawmakers alleged last month that the UAE reneged on commitments to cease military support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Other nations, including Egypt, Turkey, Iran, and Russia, have also been implicated in providing backing for various factions within the Sudanese conflict.
The Sudanese army governs the east and north regions, while the RSF dominates much of Darfur, where the UN has accused it of obstructing humanitarian aid. The African Union recently labeled the ongoing war as the ”worst humanitarian crisis in the world,’’ with over 431,000 children treated for malnutrition within the last year.
The international community, led by the UN and African Union, is calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the flow of weapons to Sudan. As humanitarian needs rise amidst the ongoing conflict, the UAE’s proposed pause aims to facilitate aid delivery. However, allegations of continued foreign military support to rival factions complicate efforts for a peaceful solution and highlight the urgency of the crisis.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
