UN aid chief condemns world's lack of action on Sudan

On Monday, the United Nations humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, harshly criticized the international community for its inadequate response to the dire situation in Sudan. Over two-thirds of Sudan's population, amounting to millions, are currently in urgent need of life-saving aid, Fletcher warned during his address to the Security Council. He lamented that instead of providing assistance, the world is supplying drones, weapons, and mercenaries to the region.

According to the UN, approximately 1,400 civilians have been killed in Sudan during the first half of the year, with a significant number of these fatalities attributed to drone strikes. Fletcher highlighted that drones have been targeting markets, fuel stations, and essential power and water infrastructure in El Obeid, North Kordofan, where the ongoing conflict has displaced 15,000 families into the city since mid-July. Reports of air strikes have also surfaced southwest of the city in recent days.

Despite these alarming figures, aid agencies were able to reach nearly 11 million people with some form of assistance by the end of June. However, Fletcher emphasized that the funding shortfalls remain substantial and far from adequate. Massad Boulos, a US presidential adviser on Arab and African Affairs, echoed Fletcher's concerns and called on the Security Council to take more decisive action.

Boulos expressed deep concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan, describing civilians as living a "nightmare" as the brutal war waged by the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces has led to the displacement of families and the destruction of their homes.

Boulos also criticized the use of armed drones, which have claimed the lives of more than 1,120 Sudanese civilians in the first half of the year alone. He stressed that the expansion of the Darfur arms embargo, which has been in place for over two decades, would be a crucial step in addressing the crisis. The embargo, set to expire on September 12, would need to be extended to cover the entire country if a new agreement is not reached.

However, expanding the restrictions would require a vote in the UN Security Council, where Russia holds veto power.

Washington has proposed a draft Security Council resolution aimed at broadening the existing arms embargo to encompass all of Sudan and explicitly targeting unmanned aerial vehicles and related technology. The resolution would also request the UN Secretary-General to increase the number of experts on the 1591 panel and direct the panel to collaborate with other regional panels to provide better information on violations of the assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo.

Boulos concluded by warning that if the Security Council fails to act, the Sudanese people will suffer the most severe consequences.