The United States made a plea on Thursday for increased global attention to Sudan, which has been embroiled in a brutal war for nearly a year, and expressed optimism for the prompt resumption of peace negotiations.
Speaking at a press conference in Washington, US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, highlighted the dire situation in Sudan, where communities are on the brink of famine, diseases like cholera and measles are spreading, and violence continues to claim numerous lives.
Thomas-Greenfield stressed the urgent need for the international community to step up its efforts, provide more assistance, and show greater concern for the crisis unfolding in Sudan.
The conflict in Sudan erupted into full-scale war on April 15, 2023, following a longstanding rift between the country’s army and the Rapid Support Forces.
The violence has resulted in thousands of deaths, the displacement of millions, and a significant setback to Sudan’s fragile transition to civilian rule.
Despite the severity of the situation, the conflict has received comparatively little attention amid the ongoing war in Gaza, exacerbating the challenges faced by humanitarian agencies in providing aid to those in need.
Thomas-Greenfield lamented that only five percent of a UN humanitarian appeal for Sudan has been met, leading to cuts in assistance for refugees.
In response, the United States announced plans to substantially increase funding in the coming days. Furthermore, France is scheduled to host an international humanitarian conference for Sudan on Monday, with hopes of rallying support and resources to address the crisis.
Tom Perriello, the US special envoy for Sudan, expressed optimism about leveraging the momentum generated by the Paris conference to kickstart new negotiations between the warring parties.
Perriello revealed that Saudi Arabia had committed to hosting a new round of talks, and the United States is working to finalize the date for these discussions.
While previous talks in Jeddah have failed to yield significant progress, Perriello underscored the growing diplomatic appetite to end the war, fueled by its escalating impact on the region. He affirmed the US commitment to utilizing all available diplomatic tools in pursuit of peace in Sudan.
