UN Special Envoy discusses Sudan crisis with El Burhan

The United Nations’ Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, met with Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council and commander-in-chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan in Port Sudan yesterday, to discuss the UN’s role in addressing the Sudanese crisis.

Lamamra emphasised the UN’s commitment to encouraging Sudan’s warring sides to find a peaceful solution, stating, “The task assigned to me by the Secretary-General is to encourage the Sudanese brothers to resolve the crisis.” He highlighted that the UN is consulting with all parties to facilitate dialogue.

Describing his meeting with El Burhan as fruitful and constructive, Lamamra reviewed the current issues and referred to statements from the UN Security Council and Secretary-General António Guterres. These statements stressed the need to avoid a humanitarian disaster, particularly in El Fasher, North Darfur.

Lamamra underscored the UN’s dedication to protecting civilians, promoting calm, and solving problems through dialogue. He also discussed ongoing consultations to resume negotiation tracks, expressing hope for successful negotiations and a positive contribution from regional and international partners to ensure a ceasefire and humanitarian aid delivery.

UNHCR

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) called on partners to urgently support efforts to aid approximately 185,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad yesterday, many of whom are fleeing the dangerous border city of Adré. 

Laura Lo Castro, UNHCR’s representative in Chad, highlighted the challenges posed by the expected rains, which have already begun and are causing “catastrophic” floods that hinder humanitarian access.

Lo Castro stressed the importance of relocating as many refugees as possible to safer areas away from the border. According to the UNHCR, they are working to establish a refugee camp to provide protection and assistance, but they need an additional $17 million to move and shelter 50,000 refugees.

Humanitarian needs

The conflict in Sudan has forced approximately 600,000 civilians to flee to Chad, where they initially settled in overcrowded border sites. 

New arrivals, mostly women and children, often arrive in poor health, suffering from trauma, physical violence, and gender-based violence. These refugees need basic protection services, including mental health support, shelter, food, water, and health services.

“Families who have crossed the border into Chad have lost everything,” stated UNHCR’s Lo Castro.

UNHCR is collaborating with partners to create five new refugee camps and expand the ten existing ones that currently host over 336,000 Sudanese refugees.

Despite reallocating resources, they face significant funding shortfalls, having secured only six per cent of the $630.2 million needed.

Red Cross

Radio Dabanga reported yesterday, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) confirmed the death of Muhand Abdelrahman, a social welfare officer from the Dar El Salam Branch of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS). 

Adnan Hizam, spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Sudan, condemned the targeting of humanitarian workers amid the ongoing conflict. Hizam conveyed his condolences to the families of victims and the SRCS, stressing that such incidents are unacceptable. 

He reiterated the need for protection and facilitation of humanitarian workers, as stipulated in international humanitarian law.

Abdelrahman is the fourth SRCS volunteer killed in the line of duty over the last two months, and the second in just two days, bringing the global toll of Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers killed in the line of duty this year to 22.

This news comes days after a member of the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) team was killed on Saturday when a shell hit his house near El Fasher Grand Market, North Darfur, the organisation reported on X.

In a statement on Saturday, the United Nations resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, expressed deep sorrow over the MSF member’s death, extending condolences to his family.