Britain has warned of escalating human rights violations in Sudan and called for urgent international action, as the country’s humanitarian crisis continues to deepen.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper criticised the lack of an effective global response to protect women and girls in Sudan during a visit on Tuesday to the eastern Chadian city of Adré. During the visit, she met Sudanese women refugees and reviewed their humanitarian conditions, stressing that reports indicate widespread sexual violence since the outbreak of war more than 1,000 days ago.
Cooper also visited a UK supported hospital in the area that provides medical care to survivors of sexual violence, according to Britain’s Foreign Office.
In addition, the foreign secretary held meetings with regional officials, including the foreign ministers of Chad, Kenya and South Sudan, as well as the chair of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council. The discussions focused on coordinating regional and international efforts to support a ceasefire process in Sudan, including engagement through the US led quartet mechanism.
In a statement, Cooper said Sudan is currently facing one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, pointing to the spread of famine, the collapse of infrastructure, and the displacement of more than 12 million people. She added that women and girls are being subjected to widespread abuses, including rape, sexual violence and abductions.
The foreign secretary announced new funding worth £20 million to support survivors of conflict related sexual violence. The funding will cover medical care, psychological support, improvements in service quality, and community programmes aimed at addressing the stigma associated with such abuses.
Cooper warned that the continuation of the war in Sudan poses risks to regional security and stability, with wider implications for migration, stressing that addressing the crisis requires shared responsibility from the international community.
