Your Excellencies, esteemed colleagues, and dear friends,
I wish to commence by stating a stark reality: after more than three years of conflict, Sudan is currently facing the gravest humanitarian crisis of this century.
Urgent Action Required
In light of this dire situation, I identify three crucial pillars for immediate action:
- Diplomatic: Advocating for a ceasefire alongside a transition towards a civilian government.
- Humanitarian: Ensuring that aid reaches those who are most vulnerable.
- Civilian Protection: Promoting restraint and the safeguarding of civilians, while fostering accountability to address impunity and deter further violations.
However, it is vital to begin with the context surrounding this crisis.
At present, over 33 million individuals are in need of humanitarian assistance, a figure that surpasses the combined populations of London, New York City, and Paris. Tragically, the El Niño phenomenon is predicted to exacerbate food scarcity in Sudan, leading to an alarming increase in the number of people facing starvation.
It is imperative to acknowledge, frankly, that the warring factions are systematically sabotaging life-saving aid and assaulting humanitarian workers. A recent attack on a World Food Programme convoy serves as a shocking testament to this grim reality.
The Evolving Nature of Conflict
The conflict has developed in increasingly lethal ways, notably through the heightened use of drones. What once was a ground-based confrontation is now increasingly conducted from the air, thus broadening the battlefield significantly.
It is a sobering reality that, in the first five months of this year alone, drone strikes have reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 civilians. Hospitals, markets, fuel depots, power stations, and vital humanitarian supply routes have all been targeted.
Sudan is already one of the most perilous places on the globe for humanitarian workers, and the introduction of drones has only heightened this danger.
Moreover, the implications extend beyond humanitarian considerations. They perpetuate the misleading notion that military solutions can resolve this conflict. We must be unequivocal: there is no military resolution to be found in Sudan.
No amount of advanced weaponry, cutting-edge technology, or external support will alter this fundamental truth.
Addressing the Humanitarian Crisis
The rise of drone warfare and the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe necessitate a transformative shift in our response. New drone capabilities do not emerge spontaneously; they are acquired, financed, and sustained through networks of various countries external to Sudan that continue to exacerbate the conflict.
This underscores the critical importance of renewing the UN sanctions regime. The efforts of the United States to enhance this regime and ensure it accurately reflects the contemporary realities of the conflict are commendable and should be universally supported.
The UN Fact-Finding Mission Report dated 3 September is explicit in its findings, highlighting how external support sustains operations involving severe violations and international crimes. The Mission calls upon states to enforce the arms embargo in Darfur and to halt the transfer of weapons, drones, components, or military assistance.
Furthermore, it advocates for the Security Council to extend the arms embargo throughout Sudan. A mere continuation of the embargo is insufficient; we must seize this moment to intensify scrutiny, pressure, and repercussions for those who supply, finance, and enable this devastating war.
Ensuring Humanitarian Access
We must unite in urging the conflicting parties to protect civilians, adhere to international humanitarian law, and facilitate safe and unhindered access for humanitarian aid. Practically, this entails eliminating conflicting visa requirements, work permits, and taxation on aid imposed by both sides.
It is essential to keep key humanitarian routes open permanently, including the critical Adré border crossing, which is due to expire this month, as well as routes into El Obeid and El Fasher, enabling aid to flow at scale.
Earlier this year, our international community came together to raise alarms regarding El Obeid. Thankfully, the feared assault did not transpire, but we must not allow ourselves to become complacent.
The people of Sudan cannot bear further escalation, another year of bloodshed, or an international community that fails to respond effectively to the new realities of this conflict.
The Necessity for Action
We can express our concerns, as I am doing now, and issue calls for peace at grand international forums, but these words hold little weight without accompanying action.
Let us strengthen our practical efforts to de-escalate the conflict, support a ceasefire, and foster a civilian-led political process that truly reflects the aspirations of the Sudanese people.
We must exert genuine pressure to protect civilians, expand humanitarian access, and hold accountable those who profit from and perpetuate this tragic conflict.
Thank you.