Khartoum – Sudan is committed to bolstering its cooperation with the United Nations and its various agencies, particularly in humanitarian endeavors, according to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council.
During a meeting held Tuesday with UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, al-Burhan emphasized the necessity for UN agencies to respect Sudanese sovereignty in their relief activities. He also accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of weaponizing food supplies to starve citizens in El Fasher.
“The al-Duglo terrorist militia [referring to the RSF] is using food as a weapon to starve citizens inside El Fasher,” al-Burhan stated.
Fletcher, in turn, highlighted the gravity of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, warning of potentially dire consequences. He noted that the recent UN Security Council session addressed concerns regarding the “horrific violations against civilians in El Fasher.”
The UN official conveyed the international community’s desire for peace in Sudan, affirming the UN’s commitment to providing humanitarian assistance, especially life-saving food and medicine, to millions of displaced persons and refugees within and outside the country.
Fletcher also expressed the UN’s readiness to enhance collaboration with local and international partners to ensure aid reaches all those in need throughout Sudan.
Following the meeting, Sudan’s Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Muawiya Khaled, described Fletcher as “one of the highest-ranking international officials to visit Sudan in recent times.”
The humanitarian situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate due to the ongoing conflict between the army and the RSF, which began in April 2023. The fighting has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of approximately 13 million people.
