March 7, 2024
The representative of Japan, painting a grim picture of the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan, said that a vast proportion of Sudan’s civilian infrastructure has been destroyed, more than 70 per cent of hospitals are non-functional and “the risk of famine is not an exaggeration”.
To avoid further devastation, the warring parties must cease hostilities and resume a peaceful political transition towards democratic elections. Additionally, rapid, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid is crucial for 24.8 million Sudanese in need, he said, calling on both parties to properly engage in coordination efforts.
To scale up aid, both cross-border and crossline mechanisms are critical, he observed, commending the recent decision by the Sudanese Government to facilitate additional cross-border humanitarian access routes. However, he voiced concern over the increasing difficulty of crossline operations across the two parties’ control areas.