The people of Sudan are trapped in a “nightmare of violence, hunger, disease, and displacement,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the Security Council.
As the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rages on, Guterres emphasized the unbearable human toll, with nearly 25 million Sudanese now requiring humanitarian aid just 18 months into the brutal conflict.
Addressing the Security Council, Guterres described the situation in Sudan as “a series of unrelenting nightmares” with “thousands of civilians killed, and countless others facing unspeakable atrocities, including widespread rape and sexual assaults.”
He reported recent accounts of mass killings and sexual violence in Aj Jazirah state and cautioned that the ongoing conflict has the potential to destabilize the entire region, affecting nations from the Sahel to the Red Sea.
Famine has started taking hold in displacement camps in North Darfur, where 750,000 people are teetering on the brink of starvation. Across Sudan, millions more are struggling to find food, while the collapse of health infrastructure has unleashed outbreaks of cholera, malaria, and dengue fever.
Guterres warned that “Sudan is also the largest displacement crisis in the world, with more than 11 million people fleeing since April last year, including nearly three million who have crossed into neighboring countries.” These displaced individuals, he added, are particularly vulnerable to climate-driven extreme weather events, adding another layer of urgency to the ongoing crisis.
Outside Powers “Fueling the Fire”
The Secretary-General once again implored both SAF and the RSF to end the fighting and pursue peace negotiations. But instead of defusing tensions, Guterres reported, both sides have escalated their military actions. He further accused “outside powers” of “fueling the fire,” referring to foreign actors who continue to supply arms and support to combatants in Sudan.
According to Guterres, the UN’s previous call for action, through Security Council resolution 2736 adopted in June, was meant to send a “strong signal” for change on the ground. He emphasized the urgency for both parties to heed the resolution and outlined his recommendations for bolstering civilian protection in Sudan, which he presented last week in alignment with the resolution’s objectives.
Priorities for Peace
Guterres emphasized three essential priorities. First, he urged both warring parties to agree to a ceasefire and humanitarian pauses that could serve as initial steps toward peace talks. The ongoing airstrikes in civilian areas such as El Fasher and Khartoum underscore the immediate need for a cessation of hostilities, he said.
Second, Guterres called for fortified civilian protections, expressing horror at the persistent targeting of civilians. He underscored that “those responsible for war crimes must be held accountable,” and insisted that the “direct or indirect flow” of weapons into Sudan “must cease immediately.”
The Secretary-General acknowledged that conditions are currently too unstable for a UN peacekeeping deployment but noted that the UN Secretariat stands ready to consult with the Security Council on effective measures for reducing violence.
Finally, Guterres appealed for uninterrupted humanitarian access, stressing that millions remain isolated from aid due to ongoing hostilities.
While the recent reopening of the Adre border crossing between Sudan and Chad offers a glimmer of hope, Guterres urged both sides to grant unhindered access to humanitarian organizations so that lifesaving supplies can reach those in desperate need.
The UN’s $2.7 billion humanitarian appeal for Sudan is only 56% funded, and the regional refugee response plan is even more underfunded, he added, urging donors to step forward with urgently needed contributions.
In his closing remarks, Guterres commended the extraordinary resilience and bravery of local Sudanese-led initiatives, such as the 700 Emergency Response Rooms, which deliver lifesaving aid despite the immense risks they face.
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