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Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan calls for protection of civilians and aid workers, and end impunity

(Port Sudan, 19 August 2024) – Marking World Humanitarian Day (WHD), the United Nations and humanitarian partners in Sudan call on all parties to the conflict in Sudan, the international community, donors, and others to ensure the protection and safety of civilians and humanitarian workers and to hold perpetrators of crimes against them accountable.

“As we mark the World Humanitarian Day today in Sudan, we appeal to all the parties to the conflict, members states, especially those with leverage visa-vis the conflict parties, and the wider international community to end attacks on civilians and take active steps to protect them – and the critical civilian infrastructure they rely on,” said Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan. “We also call on all parties to ensure the protection of all aid workers, including those working for local and national partners, and their premises and assets, facilitate their work, including opening up and guaranteeing safe and unhindered humanitarian access.”

At least 22 aid workers– all of them Sudanese nationals – have been killed while on duty and at least 34 aid workers have been wounded or injured during this period.

“Our fallen colleagues have been doing their utmost to help the most vulnerable people in need despite the risks and lost their lives. Aid workers are not a target, and these attacks must stop,” she added. “Attacks against civilians, aid workers and civilian infrastructure are violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The perpetrators cannot go unpunished and should be held to account.”

The 16-month long conflict has had a devastating impact on civilian infrastructure, over 75 per cent of health facilities are non-functional in conflict-affected states. Since April 2023, 88 attacks on health care – including on health facilities, ambulances and transport, assets, patients, and health workers – have been verified resulting in 55 deaths and 104 injuries. Destruction of power, water and sanitation infrastructure in conflict areas has led to increased risk of diseases and contributed to famine risk.

“All parties to the conflict and all States must uphold their obligations and leverage their influence to ensure respect for the rules of war and minimize human suffering. Fulfilling these obligations requires immediate and decisive actions,” the Humanitarian Coordinator said. “Turning a blind eye when humanitarian workers are targeted only emboldens those who seek to hinder their work.”

This impunity only increases food insecurity, childhood malnutrition, involuntary displacement and the spread of infectious diseases and other threats. “No matter what, we will continue to stay and deliver the lifesaving assistance to millions of most vulnerable people across Sudan, especially those already going through famine conditions and on the brink of it. The protection of civilians and aid workers as well as safe access must go hand in hand with upscaling humanitarian funding. More than seven months into the year, the Sudan humanitarian appeal, seeking US$2.7 billion, is just 33 per cent funded. This is constraining and limiting the response efforts of the UN, international and national NGOs on the ground, including in Darfur, Khartoum, Kordofan, and other areas. About 150 humanitarian organizations across Sudan have reached nearly 8 million people with some form of humanitarian aid since January. This is over half of the 14.7 million people whom humanitarian organizations plan to reach with assistance in 2024.

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For more information, please contact: Tapiwa Gomo, gomo@un.org; +249 91 217 0418

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