June 18, 2024
AS DELIVERED
Thank you, Mr. President. Also, I would like to thank Director Wosornu, ASG Pobee, and Ms. Ahmed for briefing the Security Council, and for your leadership and your advocacy for the people of Sudan.
Colleagues, we gather for today’s meeting to discuss the situation in Sudan and Resolution 2715, which terminated the UNITAMS mandate in Sudan.
That termination came after the Sudanese authorities decided that the UN mission no longer served the needs of the Sudanese people.
Of course, this is despite the fact that the Sudanese waring parties are not concerned about the Sudanese people, particularly women and children who are the greatest victims as we heard from our briefers today.
Indeed, as the United States said in adopting that resolution: with the war in Sudan spiraling into a regional crisis and humanitarian disaster, the work of UNITAMS is more critical than ever before.
Since that vote in December, the catastrophe in Sudan has only gotten worse for the people of Sudan. Again, women and children are at the forefront of the suffering, as we heard from Ms. Ahmed.
As the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces continue their senseless war, civilians have paid an unacceptable price.
This is one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. And we know that famine has likely descended. Five million people are already experiencing severe hunger and are at risk of sliding into famine, including 730,000 children, who are suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Reports indicate some Sudanese have been forced to eat tree leaves to try to survive.
And over recent weeks, El Fasher, once one of the last safe havens for civilians, has been raided, attacked, and bombarded by indiscriminate shelling by the RSF.
As the RSF tightens its siege and continues its incursion into the city, hospitals have been looted and forced to close, leaving just one hospital to treat hundreds of civilians caught and wounded in the fighting.
Food markets have become bare, and aid and other critical supplies have been cut off.
It is imperative that the RSF immediately stop these unconscionable attacks, and that both the RSF and SAF de-escalate and agree to a ceasefire, which is the only way to ensure civilians are protected.
Special Envoy Perriello is working diligently with Personal Envoy Lamamra, and others to this effect.
Colleagues, let me be clear: there is no military solution to this senseless war. Let me repeat that. There is no military solution to this senseless war. None. None, whatsoever.
That is why last week, this Council came together to demand an end to the fighting in El Fasher; to insist that humanitarian aid flow freely across all routes – including through the Adre crossing; and to call for the immediate cessation of hostilities across Sudan leading to a sustainable resolution to this conflict.
And, for our part, the United States recently announced a surge of more than $315 million dollars in additional humanitarian assistance to support the people of Sudan. More is clearly needed.
But this is not the moment to sit back and sit by. Not so long as the humanitarian crisis worsens by the day, and as the warring parties continue to carry out unthinkable atrocities.
We urge the Council to continue to keep Sudan at the top of our agenda and take further action until we have achieved peace for the Sudanese people.
We must also continue calling on external actors to stop fueling and prolonging this conflict, and enabling these atrocities, by sending weapons to Sudan.
Last week, this Council was briefed by the Chair of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee. Today, we remind Member States of their obligations to comply with the UN arms embargo in force in Darfur.
Most of all, we must continue to call for the resumption of ceasefire talks, that includes civilians, including women, and a return to civilian governance that the Sudanese people want, deserve, and have worked so hard for.
This Council, the UN writ large, and key stakeholders in the region, including the African Union, Arab League, and broader international community, must work together to advance peace, and advance a better future for Sudan.
The lives of millions of Sudanese hang in the balance as we have heard from our briefers. There isn’t a moment to lose.
Thank you, Mr. President.