International envoys discuss Sudan situation, welcome resuming talks
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A new round of talks between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces are expected to take place later this month in Saudi Arabia.
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Heavy smoke bellows above buildings in the vicinity of Khartoum's airport on April 15, 2023, amid clashes in the Sudanese capital (AFP)
The US, French, Norwegian, British, and African Union envoys to Sudan have discussed measures to prevent the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the war-torn country and welcomed in a related context the proposed resumption of talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The United States expects negotiations between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces RSF to resume on April 18th in Jeddah. However, diplomatic sources at the Sudanese Foreign Ministry have denied receiving confirmation of the round being held on the proposed date.
Envoys and special representatives from France, Norway, Britain, the US, and the European Union held a meeting on Monday in Oslo, Norway, where they discussed the conflict in Sudan.
Read more: Sudan prosecutors accuse ex-PM Hamdok of 'inciting war against state'
The attendees emphasized in a joint statement that "the international community and the region must act in a coordinated manner," adding that they welcome the proposed resumption of talks in Jeddah and consider it the best course of action. They also discussed "what needs to be done to avoid further civilian suffering."
The statement called on the warring parties to cease hostilities and agree to a permanent and immediate ceasefire, noting the need for the Sudanese Army and RSF to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to mitigate the increasing risk of famine.
More than 18 million Sudanese are struggling with acute food insecurity, a record during harvest season, and 10 million more than at this time last year, while 730,000 Sudanese children are predicted to be suffering from severe malnutrition.
The World Food Programme confirmed earlier that, for the first time in months, critically needed supplies have entered Sudan's Darfur region as it warns that hunger in the area will worsen.
WFP's Sudan Spokesperson Leni Kinzli asserted last Friday that food distribution is now ongoing in West and Central Darfur, during a press briefing in Geneva, via video address from Nairobi.
Read more: Sudanese Army recaptures towns neighboring Babanusa from RSF
"We are extremely concerned that unless the people of Sudan receive a constant flow of aid via all possible humanitarian corridors -- from neighboring countries and across battle lines -- the country's hunger catastrophe will only worsen," Kinzli said.
"The temporary halt of the humanitarian corridor from Chad as well as ongoing fighting, lengthy clearance processes for humanitarian cargo, bureaucratic impediments, and security threats have made it impossible for humanitarians to operate at the scale needed to meet the hunger needs in Sudan," she continued, adding that cereal harvest was 78% below the five-year average.
"Hunger in Sudan will only increase as the lean season starts in just a few weeks. Our greatest fear is that we will see unprecedented levels of starvation and malnutrition sweep across Sudan this lean season -- and that the Darfur region will be particularly hard-hit."
Read more: Nearly 230,000 children, new mothers risk dying of hunger in Sudan
