Christopher Lockyear from Médecins Sans Frontières urged the UN Security Council to address the humanitarian woes in Sudan, marked by two years of violence and suffering. The briefing emphasized civilian casualties and challenges in delivering aid while calling for an operational compact for better access to humanitarian assistance.
Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), delivered a significant briefing to the United Nations Security Council, urging immediate action on the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The situation has resulted in immense violence and humanitarian crises over the last two years, characterized by widespread devastation, displacement, and famine, alongside a lack of effective responses from the international community.
Mr. Lockyear emphasized the war’s impact on civilians, highlighting that rather than being protected, these individuals are facing increased suffering due to actions from both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The armed groups have conducted indiscriminate bombings and committed violent acts, including sexual violence and the obstruction of humanitarian assistance which affects the delivery of essential support to affected populations.
In a recent visit to Khartoum, Lockyear witnessed the dire conditions in hospitals, observing severely injured patients due to the ongoing conflict. The Al-Nao hospital in Omdurman exemplifies the catastrophic scene as it continues to treat victims amid ongoing strikes. Similarly, in South Darfur, MSF facilities have been overwhelmed with casualties from direct attacks, while the humanitarian medical services are stretched thin.
Violence in regions like West Darfur has led to egregious communal massacres, resulting in mass casualty incidents that forced many civilians to flee their homes. MSF has reported treating over 800 wounded individuals in other regions such as Chad due to the escalating violence against specific communities, highlighting the targeted nature of the conflict.
MSF is actively engaged in providing medical aid across numerous hospitals and health facilities in Sudan, where severe malnutrition rates are alarming. Increased cases of vaccine-preventable diseases are further complicating the healthcare crisis. The need for humanitarian aid is escalating, driven not just by the conflict but also by continued restrictions on access.
While some measures to improve humanitarian access have been observed, such as cross-border supply routes and visa processing for aid workers, these advances are insufficient relative to the overwhelming need. The impediments to effective aid delivery are exacerbated by bureaucratic obstacles and ongoing violence from the Rapid Support Forces.
Logistical challenges in transporting aid have led to exorbitant costs, forcing humanitarian groups into precarious situations where they must choose between compliance with local demands or risking expulsion. Assertions of sovereignty should not hinder the crucial flow of assistance necessary for survival.
Despite the dedication of humanitarian workers, the response to the Sudan crisis remains inadequate and characterized by strategic paralysis. There is a critical need for addressing fundamental humanitarian access issues to ensure timely assistance for affected populations. Lockyear criticized the stagnant humanitarian system and the failure to reflect commitments into meaningful action for civilians in distress.
A proposed solution includes establishing a new compact focused on civilian protection, which would streamline the delivery of humanitarian aid while minimizing political interference. This necessitates political will and concerted leadership efforts among global actors to realign the involved parties with humanitarian needs, an initiative reliant on robust monitoring and accountability systems.
Lockyear concluded by stressing the urgency of mobilizing additional funding from donor nations and more proactive measures by the UN Secretariat to bolster response efforts as the hunger gap approaches during the rainy season. A shift away from prior failed approaches is essential for the survival of millions in Sudan.
The MSF briefing highlighted the critical humanitarian crisis in Sudan, urging the UN Security Council to take immediate action. With millions affected by violence and critical need for aid, the situation necessitates urgent reassessment of humanitarian access and a commitment to civilian protection. Establishing a new operational compact is essential for ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance without interference, as continued inaction could exacerbate the already dire conditions facing the Sudanese population.
Original Source: www.msf.org
