New York, July 2(Darfur24)
The United Nations announced that the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, is intensifying his good offices to support efforts to de-escalate the conflict and push for a political solution in the country.
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in his daily press briefing that the Personal Envoy continues to emphasize the vital importance of intensifying and further unifying diplomatic efforts by the international community to end the war.
Dujarric added that Lamamra’s team is currently completing consultations regarding the next meeting of the Advisory Group, which will be co-organized with the African Union in Addis Ababa. The Personal Envoy is also continuing his efforts to launch preparatory consultations with the parties on the protection of civilians.
Separately, Dujarric announced that Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher spoke with senior officials from the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces this week to press for a humanitarian truce that would allow life-saving aid to reach thousands of people in the besieged city of El Fasher.
Since April of last year, the United Nations and its partners have struggled to reach civilians in desperate need of assistance. Dujarric said the United Nations will continue its engagement to facilitate rapid and safe access to vital aid.
Meanwhile, Dujarric said the United Nations remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian impact of ongoing fighting across Sudan, particularly in the Kordofan region, where fighting is leading to increased displacement and exacerbating needs.
The International Organization for Migration reports that insecurity in North and West Kordofan states has forced more than 30,000 people to flee their towns and villages.
People also continue to flee hostilities in North Darfur, where fighting in El Fasher has displaced more than 400,000 people since April of this year, most of them to the Tawila area.
Over the past month, nearly 8,000 displaced people from North Darfur have arrived in the Dabba locality in Northern State, according to local authorities there. This influx has increased pressure on already limited resources, impacting access to shelter, clean water, food, and healthcare.
Stéphane Dujarric reiterated the UN’s call on all parties in Sudan to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and facilitate safe and sustained access to vulnerable groups in need throughout the country, in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) sounded the alarm about the potential risk of flooding during the country’s rainy season, which lasts until October. Any flooding could disrupt land access, hinder aid delivery, and increase the risk of disease outbreaks.
Last year, nearly half a million people were affected by flooding in parts of Sudan. The UN and its partners are ready to respond where access and resources permit. However, severe funding shortfalls are limiting our ability to pre-position critical supplies, according to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.