Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General of MSF, addressed the UN Security Council, emphasizing the dire humanitarian crisis in Sudan characterized by violence against civilians and significant obstacles to aid delivery. He called for urgent action to protect civilians and to ensure the provision of essential medical and food supplies as conditions worsen. The lack of a comprehensive international response to the crisis both damages humanitarian efforts and endangers millions of lives.
On October 24, 2023, Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), briefed the UN Security Council regarding the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan, emphasizing the urgent need to end violence against civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid. He described the conflict as a devastating “war on people,” marked by atrocities such as indiscriminate bombings, sexual violence, and the blockade of aid.
The Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have engaged in extreme violence against civilians, leading to significant destruction of infrastructure and lack of access to medical care. MSF operates in 11 states in Sudan, reporting severe malnutrition and rising infectious diseases. The upcoming rainy season heightens the urgency to deliver crucial food and medical supplies to affected populations.
Lockyear criticized the scant international response over the past two years, attributing it to bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of accountability. He stated, “Civilians remain unseen, unprotected, bombed, besieged, raped…,” highlighting the failure to protect those affected by this conflict. He called for a bold commitment to civilian protection and an end to current trends of neglect and inaction.
Describing the carnage at hospitals in conflict-affected areas like Khartoum, Lockyear noted that MSF-supported medical facilities are overwhelmed. Recent violence has caused numerous civilian casualties, with whole communities suffering from targeted attacks. He emphasized the obstructed delivery of humanitarian aid due to bureaucratic hurdles and unfair tolls imposed by armed groups controlling entry points.
The ongoing crisis demands innovative solutions and reallocation of resources to ensure that humanitarian efforts can effectively reach those in need. Despite some minor progress in scaling up humanitarian access, Lockyear asserted that the response remains inadequate relative to the overwhelming humanitarian needs in Sudan.
The humanitarian crisis in Sudan, as outlined by MSF’s Secretary General Christopher Lockyear, highlights the acute threats to civilian lives amid ongoing conflict. The impediments faced in delivering humanitarian aid, the urgent need for a renewed commitment to civilian protection, and the rising levels of malnutrition and disease necessitate immediate international action. A reformed approach to humanitarian assistance and funds is crucial to alleviate the devastating impact of the conflict on millions of vulnerable people.
Original Source: www.doctorswithoutborders.org
