Thank you, Presidency. I would also want to thank Director Wosornu and Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo again for their briefings. Lastly, I would like to thank His Excellency Mr. Ibn Chambas for his briefing, which emphasized to us the importance of AU-UNSC cooperation.
I want to discuss three issues that are based on the expectations for a peaceful future, the agony that the Sudanese people go through, and their aspirations.
First of all, it has been five years since the rallies of the Sudanese people ended decades of oppression, demonstrating their desire for self-determination.
The Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces have crushed these hopes.
Second, the world’s largest famine and displacement crises is currently engulfing Sudan. Life-saving goods aren’t getting to people who need them most because assistance convoys are purposefully being blocked and targeted.
Women and girls are being sexually assaulted, and civilians are being killed. Villages are being destroyed by fire and pillaged.
This Council joined the African Union, the League of Arab States, and the UN Secretary-General in urging the warring parties to put an end to their weapons during the holy month of Ramadan by passing Resolution 2724. However, they disregarded this unified international appeal for peace and continued to suffer the people of Sudan.
The rising hostilities in El-Fasher are a concern for the United Kingdom as well. A full-scale conflict in and around the city would have disastrous humanitarian effects.
We highlight the armed movements in the city, the Sudanese Armed Forces, and the Rapid Support Forces’ need to act to defuse the situation. We also remind everyone of their responsibilities under international humanitarian law, particularly to protect civilians.
Third, Sudan still has time to pull back from the precipice. In order for this to happen, the warring parties must first agree on a long-term truce, support a political process aimed at restoring civilian control, and resume talks, including through the Jeddah process.
The Adre border route is critical, and the Sudanese authorities must promptly restore it and honor their pledge to facilitating cross-border and cross-line humanitarian access.
Third, the bloodshed is being prolonged by outside parties who are giving either fighting faction material support. In order to get the warring parties to the bargaining table, those with influence over them must make positive use of this.
President, the United Kingdom will increase its humanitarian help to about $110 million in the upcoming year, as we declared during the Paris meeting. However, it cannot assist prevent hunger or reach people in greatest need if humanitarian access is not maintained.
This anniversary represents a terrible turning point in an unnecessary war. We urge the warring parties to initiate a political process, remove obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian aid, and immediately put an end to hostilities.
