Mr. President,
I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+, namely Guyana, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and my own country, Algeria.
At the outset, we take this opportunity to thank OCHA Director Ms. Edem Wosornu and WFP Assistant Executive Director, Mr. Stephen Omollo, for their respective remarks.
We welcome the presence of the Permanent representative of Sudan to this meeting.
Mr. President,
We meet today to address the catastrophic humanitarian situation prevailing in Sudan that is increasingly getting worse.
The recent report from the Famine Review Committee (FRC) of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) provided critical insights into the prevailing situation in the Zamzam, Abu Shouk, and Al Salam Internally Displaced People camps.
We have taken keen note of the conclusions, for example, that “In Zamzam camp, in the August to October projection period, the FRC finds it plausible that famine (IPC Phase 5) will persist”.
This new analysis, though unable to ascertain actual numbers given data constraints, highlights “the high likelihood of similar conditions prevailing in other IDP sites in the El Fasher area”.
Moreover, the projections for the next months related to livelihoods, trade flows, humanitarian access and disease outbreaks are alarming.
More than 25 million persons in Sudan – mothers, fathers, children and the elderly – are facing acute food insecurity, and hundreds of thousands of people are being given only two grim realities: war and famine.
The A3+ has noted the FRC’s assessment that many other areas in Sudan remain at risk of famine as long as the conflict and limited humanitarian access continue.
Against this backdrop, the A3+ would like to stress the following:
First, the Urgent need for unimpeded humanitarian access. All parties must play their part to facilitate critical humanitarian assistance across borders and across conflict lines.
Multiple cross-border access points are required, now more than ever, to prevent a further humanitarian catastrophe.
We also encourage collective efforts and sustained cooperation of the Sudanese Government to deploy all means to ensure life-saving assistance reaches those trapped in conflict zones.
Second, Humanitarian access must go hand in hand with scaled-up resources and adequate funding to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.
Just a few weeks ago, during our last briefing, we learned that the Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan remained under 35% resourced. In similar situation is the Regional Refugee Response Plan.
We therefore reiterate our call to the international community to redouble its efforts towards improving the humanitarian funding and strengthening regional response, in particular to neighboring countries, to support those who manage to escape the conflict.
Third, we remain gravely concerned by the siege imposed by the RSF on the city of El Fasher and the deadly clashes in the surrounding villages.
The A3+ appeals to the warring parties to put the people of Sudan first, and reiterates its call for a humanitarian ceasefire to allow safe evacuation into conflict-free zones.
Fourth, we are encouraged by ongoing mediation efforts, including the recent Geneva proximity talks convened by the Secretary General’s Personal Envoy.
We welcome these engagements and call on the parties to participate in good faith.
We fully support the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary General as well as efforts by the African Union and IGAD to bring peace and tranquility to Sudan.
We also take this opportunity to underscore the need for coordinated efforts, building on existing and future mediation initiatives, avoiding silos and duplicated actions.
In this regard, the recent Djibouti Mediation Retreat was another step in the right direction.
Similarly, external interferences, fueling the crisis and impeding advancement toward peace, must be publicly and firmly condemned.
Mr. President,
It is crucial for the international community to stand as one to end the unspeakable suffering of the Sudanese people and allow them to live in peace and security.
We cannot idly stand by while an entire nation is on the brink of collapse.
The time for action is now.
Every moment of delay costs precious lives.
Let us unite with unwavering determination to bring hope, peace, and lasting stability to the people of Sudan.
I thank you.
