There is famine in Sudan – and that famine is entirely man-made: UK statement at the UN Security Council
Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan.
There is only one possible conclusion from the Famine Review Committee’s data: there is famine in Sudan, and that famine is entirely man-made.
Today, one hundred Sudanese civilians, men, women and children will die from starvation.
Tomorrow, one hundred more.
This appalling loss of life will continue until the warring parties put the Sudanese people before power.
President, the level of suffering in Sudan is unimaginable. It exists far beyond Zamzam camp, and it is a direct consequence of the actions of the warring parties.
The Sudanese Armed Forces are obstructing aid delivery into Darfur, including by shutting the Adre crossing, the most direct route to deliver assistance at scale.
The Rapid Support Forces’ ongoing assault on Darfur has forced thousands to flee and created the conditions for starvation to spread. It does not need to be this way. The warring parties and those with influence can take immediate action to prevent further suffering.
First, we call on the warring parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access. This includes opening the Adre crossing, lifting bureaucratic obstacles and taking measures to protect aid workers, so they can deliver food to starving communities.
Second, there is no military solution to this crisis. We call on the warring parties to join talks in Geneva and engage in good faith, to agree steps to a durable ceasefire, full humanitarian access and the protection of civilians.
And third, in March, the Secretary General released a White Note under Security Council resolution 2417 to warn this Council of the risk of famine in Sudan. The UN’s warnings and calls for action have been ignored by the warring parties just as they have ignored international calls for a ceasefire, including by this Council.
In the face of such blatant disregard for human life, this Council should consider all necessary tools to end this man-made crisis.
President, it is not too late to prevent further suffering. The time to act is now.