21/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 22/08/2024 01:39
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, calling on him to lead an immediate response to the spiraling humanitarian situation in Sudan. Chair Cardin stressed the need to redouble efforts to confront the humanitarian crisis, particularly in the wake of this month's famine declaration.
"The devastating famine in Sudan was both predictable and preventable. At a moment of unimaginable suffering, the international community cannot stand by," wrote Chair Cardin. "Together, we must be active, bold, and innovative in our efforts to save innocent lives and end the suffering of the Sudanese people."
"The limited UN presence in Sudan has impeded cross border delivery, paralyzed the humanitarian response, and exacerbated food insecurity," continued Chair Cardin. "The NGO community cannot duplicate the scale and reach of the UN and UN agencies…Without bold, decisive action by the UN to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance, it will be impossible to prevent millions of Sudanese from starving. The community of nations must act."
Specifically, Chair Cardin urged Secretary-General Guterres to swiftly take the following steps:
Full text of the letter is available here and below.
Dear Secretary-General Guterres: I write to urge you to lead an immediate response to address the spiraling humanitarian situation in Sudan where parties to the conflict have committed gross violations of human rights, including the use of food as a weapon of war.
Without bold, decisive action by the United Nations (UN) to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance, it will be impossible to prevent millions of Sudanese from starving. The community of nations must act.
Earlier this month, the Famine Early Warning System (FEWS NET) and Famine Review Committee confirmed what aid groups have been warning about for months-that the continued conflict and impediments to humanitarian access by the warring parties have led to famine in parts of Sudan. These expert bodies issued an alert that famine is present in the Zamzam camp in North Darfur which hosts more than 400,000 internally displaced people. Furthermore, there is a risk of famine across the rest of EI Fasher, home to 800,000 people, and other parts of Darfur and South Kordofan if the current siege continues. The determination was only made possible because there remain humanitarian groups in North Darfur that were able to gather the requisite data. Experts expect that similar conditions are likely occurring across many more communities in Sudan where there is no such access.
Notwithstanding this reality, the limited UN humanitarian presence in Sudan has impeded cross border delivery, paralyzed the humanitarian response and exacerbated food insecurity. The NGO community cannot duplicate the scale and reach of the UN and UN Agencies. Operating without the support of multilateral organizations places our partners in legal and actual peril as they attempt to continue their humanitarian missions.
I appreciate your efforts to respond to the crisis to date: from obtaining the recent agreement from the Sudanese Armed Forces to use the border crossing at Adre for 90 days, to appointing Ramtane Lamamra as your Personal Envoy for Sudan, to calling for a cessation of hostilities, to urging member states to increase funding for humanitarian aid. In addition, I welcome the passage of Security Council Resolution 2736 calling on all parties to the conflict to uphold international humanitarian law, including by allowing and facilitating unhindered humanitarian access so that life-saving aid can reach those in need, However, nearly a year and a half into the conflict, the UN's response to the humanitarian crisis remains insufficient.
Under your leadership, the UN can, and must do more. I urge you to swiftly take the following steps:
The devastating famine in Sudan was both predictable and preventable. At a moment of unimaginable suffering, the international community cannot stand by. Together, we must be active, bold, and innovative in our efforts to save innocent lives and end the suffering of the Sudanese people.
As UN Secretary General, you are uniquely positioned to spur the international community to greater action and to take important strides towards ending this crisis. I stand ready to support you and to work collectively to address the ongoing humanitarian emergency.
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