Western countries have issued a joint statement urging Sudan’s warring parties to immediately halt hostilities, while condemning deadly attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Kordofan and Darfur regions.
According to a statement published by Germany’s Foreign Ministry, the signatories expressed “grave concern” over the continued unlawful and lethal attacks targeting civilians, civilian infrastructure, and humanitarian operations amid intensified fighting in Kordofan and Darfur. The statement was endorsed by Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta, Canada, Iceland, New Zealand, and the European Commission.
The statement said that Darfur and Kordofan remain at the epicenter of what it described as the world’s largest humanitarian and protection crisis.
It warned that sexual and gender-based violence is widespread, famine is imminent, and severe hunger continues to spread. In Kordofan alone, up to 100,000 people have been displaced in recent months.
Urgent call for ceasefire
The statement renewed an “urgent call” on the Rapid Support Forces, General al-Burhan’s army (SAF), and allied militias to immediately cease all hostilities.
Drone and airstrike escalation
The countries expressed alarm over a sharp recent escalation in drone and air attacks, including strikes that hit displaced civilians, health facilities, food aid convoys, and areas near humanitarian hubs. These attacks have resulted in large numbers of civilian casualties and have severely disrupted humanitarian access and supply routes.
It noted that in recent weeks alone, drone and missile strikes on trucks and warehouses belonging to the World Food Programme, as well as on health facilities, have killed and injured civilians and humanitarian workers, while destroying critically needed humanitarian supplies and infrastructure.
The statement stressed that deliberate attacks on humanitarian workers, vehicles, or aid supplies, as well as the intentional obstruction of relief access, violate international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes.
Violence against civilians
The signatories strongly condemned what they described as “abhorrent violence” against civilians—particularly women and children—and all serious violations of international humanitarian law. Such violations, the statement said, may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity and must be promptly and impartially investigated, with those responsible held to account.
Call to all parties
The statement urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law, including their obligation to allow rapid, safe, and unhindered access to food, medicine, and essential supplies for civilians in need.
It emphasized that civilians, including humanitarian workers, must be protected at all times, particularly women and girls who remain at heightened risk of sexual and gender-based violence. Safe passage for displaced people must also be guaranteed.
The statement concluded by reaffirming solidarity with the Sudanese people and with local and international humanitarian organizations working tirelessly under extremely difficult conditions to assist them.
