UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher has spoken by phone with RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, as fighting escalates around Sudan’s strategic city of El Obeid.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Fletcher discussed the worsening hostilities in Sudan, including in El Obeid, during the call with the Rapid Support Forces leader.
Fletcher stressed the need to ensure safe access for humanitarian workers to reach people in need and to guarantee the safe movement of civilians.
He also raised concern over the impact of drone attacks on civilians and on infrastructure that communities rely on.
The two sides discussed challenges affecting the ability of the United Nations and its NGO partners to deliver life-saving aid, including bureaucratic obstacles.
Dujarric said Fletcher has been in contact with several key actors in recent days to press for safe and unhindered humanitarian access and the protection of civilians.
The call comes after the TASIS-aligned Government of Peace said it was ready to open safe corridors for civilians wishing to leave El Obeid and coordinate with international and regional actors on urgent measures to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access.
The Government of Peace also said it was committed to securing aid delivery to those in need without obstruction or discrimination, while calling for an immediate and unconditional humanitarian truce to allow aid deliveries and the evacuation of the wounded and sick.
