In a recent statement, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield highlighted the severe humanitarian crisis in Sudan, exacerbated by ongoing civil conflict. During her visit to a refugee camp in Chad last September, she encountered women and girls who had fled violence in Sudan. She noted that the civil war has led to the largest displacement crisis globally.
The forthcoming report from the UN's Panel of Experts on Sudan is expected to confirm many of these harrowing experiences. "The findings I was briefed on thus far are horrific," said Thomas-Greenfield. Reports indicate egregious atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militia, including mass killings of Masalit and other ethnic African minorities seeking refuge in Ardamatta, where an estimated 1,000 were killed in a single day. Additionally, there have been reports of systemic gender-based violence affecting girls as young as 14 years old.
Aerial bombardments and human rights violations by Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are also deeply concerning. Thomas-Greenfield expressed disappointment over the lack of attention these allegations have received both within and outside the UN Security Council.
The conflict has displaced eight million people in Sudan, leading to widespread famine and disease. "The people of Sudan feel that they have been forgotten," she remarked. The ambassador criticized SAF for prohibiting cross-border assistance from Chad and hindering aid from the east, actions which threaten essential lifelines for those needing international aid. Meanwhile, RSF has been accused of looting humanitarian warehouses.
Thomas-Greenfield emphasized that both sides must permit unhindered humanitarian assistance throughout Sudan. She called for urgent action from the Security Council to address this matter: "It is clear that this is an urgent matter of peace and security that demands greater attention."
She urged swift measures to alleviate human suffering, hold perpetrators accountable, and end the conflict in Sudan before time runs out.