S/PV.9878 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of the Sudan and the United Arab Emirates to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UNICEF; and Mr. Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General, Médecins sans frontières. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I give the floor to Ms. Russell. Ms. Russell: I thank you, Madam President, for inviting me to speak here today. I would like to express my appreciation to Denmark and the United Kingdom for convening and hosting this briefing during Denmark’s presidency of the Security Council. I would also like to acknowledge my colleague from Médecins sans frontières (MSF), who does such incredible work in the Sudan and other very difficult places around the world. The need for this discussion could not be more urgent. Nearly two years into the conflict, the Sudan is now the largest and the most devastating humanitarian crisis in the world. With its economy and social services system and infrastructure in near collapse, and no end to the conflict in sight, we estimate that nearly two thirds of the Sudan’s total population — more than 30 million people — will require humanitarian assistance this year. Sixteen million of them are children, and they are paying a terrible price. Famine is occurring in hotspots in at least five locations in the Sudan, with an estimated 1.3 million children under five living in these areas. More than 3 million children under five are at imminent risk of deadly disease outbreaks, including cholera, malaria and dengue, owing to the failing health system, and 16.5 million school-aged children — nearly an entire generation — are out of school. This is not just a crisis, it is a polycrisis, affecting every sector, from health and nutrition to water, education and protection. Children in the Sudan are enduring unimaginable suffering and horrific violence. The last time I was in the Sudan, I met with families and children who are living through this nightmare. Their stories are heartbreaking and demand immediate action. The fighting is happening right at their doorsteps, around their homes, their schools and hospitals, and across many of the Sudan’s cities, towns, and villages. UNICEF continues to receive alarming reports of grave violations against children trapped in this conflict, including their recruitment and use by armed groups. Between June and December 2024, more than 900 incidents of grave violations against children were reported, with a staggering 80 per cent involving the killing and maiming of children, primarily in Darfur, Khartoum and Al Jazirah states. Sadly, we know these numbers are just a fraction of the reality. Over the course of just two days in February, 21 children were reported killed and 29 children maimed by shelling in Kadugli, South Kordofan state; another 11 children were reported killed when a livestock market was shelled in El Fasher, North Darfur state; The widespread use of explosive weapons also continues to proliferate, with a devastating impact on children. Those weapons will not disappear when the conflict ends. Weapon contamination will continue to threaten children and all civilians, especially internally displaced people and those returning to their homes, their schools and their communities. We estimate that 13 million civilians are at risk. And the proliferation of those weapons also prevents safe access for humanitarians trying to reach them. In the conflict, we are also seeing a breakdown of the rule of law and outright impunity for horrific harm to children. In the Sudan today, sexual violence is pervasive. It is used to humiliate, dominate, disperse, forcibly relocate and terrify an entire population. Right now, an estimated 12.1 million women and girls — and increasingly men and boys  — are at risk of sexual violence. That is an 80 per cent increase from the previous year. According to data analysed by UNICEF and collected by service providers in the Sudan, 221 cases of rape against children were reported in 2024 in nine states. We estimate that 67 per cent of those children are girls and 33 per cent are boys. In 16 of the recorded cases, the children were under the age of five; four were babies under the age of one. The data gives us only a glimpse into what we know is a far more devastating crisis. Survivors and their families are often unwilling or unable to come forward owing to challenges in accessing services, fear of social stigma or the risk of retribution. Their powerful stories demand action. One girl told us how, when alone in Khartoum after the death of her parents, she was raped by four armed, masked men. Even after enduring so much other horror, she described this as the greatest hardship she had faced. The trauma those children experience and the deep scars it leaves behind do not end with the signing of a ceasefire or a peace agreement. They will need ongoing care and support to heal and rebuild their lives. The scale and gravity of the crisis requires urgent conflict de-escalation and unrestricted humanitarian access, both across borders and conflict lines, to fight and mitigate famine and to meet the immediate needs of millions of vulnerable people. Humanitarian actors face frequent impediments in obtaining the necessary permits for the delivery of supplies in areas affected by armed conflict. The front lines continue to be fluid. Avenues that are open today might be closed tomorrow. Humanitarian actors must be ready to seize all cross-line, cross-border opportunities to be able to deliver life-saving supplies across the country. Unfortunately, parties have not mutually agreed on common routes through conflict lines for the delivery of aid, especially to the areas most impacted by the conflict. That lack of agreement means that aid organizations can seek safety and security guarantees only on an ad-hoc basis, reducing aid flow and preventing children and their families from accessing the basics they need to survive. It should come as no surprise that food insecurity and malnutrition are spiking in all the places cut off from humanitarian aid. More than 770,000 children are expected to suffer severe acute malnutrition this year — many in areas that we struggle to reach. Without life-saving aid, many of those children will die. And humanitarian workers in the Sudan, as they are all over the world, are at risk of attack, injury and death themselves. Since the start of the conflict in the Sudan, more than 110 aid workers have been killed, wounded, kidnapped or remain missing or unaccounted for. We need the voices of Council members to ensure the protection of aid workers and community-based groups working in the Sudan. Despite the enormous challenges, UNICEF continues to respond wherever and however it can — delivering life-saving supplies and services in conflict hotspots, I would like to conclude with four urgent requests to the Council. First, the world must stand united in calling for the protection of children and the infrastructure they depend on to survive, in line with international humanitarian law, human rights law and basic humanity. Parties must stop the violence, including sexual violence against children immediately, putting in place measures to hold all perpetrators accountable and committing to action plans with the United Nations to end and prevent further grave violations against children. Documenting cases of violence and sexual violence is a critical step towards justice and remedy. But humanitarian actors, civil society and local volunteers face threats for denouncing or documenting human rights violations. Those heroes must be protected. Secondly, we call on the Security Council to engage with and pressure all parties to ensure rapid, unimpeded and safe movement of humanitarian workers and supplies across conflict lines and cross-border through all entry points. We cannot reach children in desperate need and reverse famine when bureaucratic and administrative impediments stand in our way. For example, humanitarian access via the Aweil border crossing to reach East Darfur and West Kordofan is critical. We need Council members’ voices to ensure the United Nations can safely re-establish its offices in Zalingei, Central Darfur, and Kadugli, South Kordofan. We also call on the Security Council to re-establish and facilitate the permanent presence of the United Nations and partners in areas of most critical need. Thirdly, we urgently call for the halt of all military support to the parties and again call on all Member States to leverage their power and influence to prevent further escalation of violence. Ensuring that parties respect and comply with international laws and facilitating political dialogue are the only way to put an end to the conflict and to give hope for a lasting peace to the millions of Sudanese devastated by the war. Finally, we ask the Council to call on donors to ensure that UNICEF and all other humanitarian organizations can stay and deliver for children in the Sudan. Only a massive mobilization of resources can save their lives and futures. UNICEF Sudan estimates that it will need $1 billion in 2025 to deliver life-saving support to 8.7 million vulnerable children. Now, more than ever, flexible funding is essential to ensure humanitarian actors’ ability to respond quickly during emergencies and to sustain the services children need to survive, especially nutrition, water and sanitation, child protection, health and education. Those investments are urgently needed to prevent the further collapse of critical social service systems in the Sudan. Without those urgent actions, the crisis will further overwhelm Sudanese society, and the suffering will increase exponentially, resulting in a generational catastrophe that threatens the future of the Sudan, the region and beyond. I thank Council members again for the opportunity to address them today.

I thank Ms. Russell for her briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Lockyear. Mr. Lockyear: Two years of unrelenting violence have plagued the Sudan — two years of devastation, displacement and death. Millions have been uprooted, and tens of thousands have been killed. Famine is tightening its grip. Two years of suffering, met with two years of indifference and inaction. The war in the Sudan is a war on people — a reality that grows more evident by the day. The Rapid Support Forces, the Sudanese Armed Forces and other parties to the conflict are not only failing to protect civilians; they are actively compounding their suffering. The Sudanese Armed Forces have repeatedly and indiscriminately bombed densely populated areas. The Rapid Support Forces and allied militias have unleashed a campaign of brutality, marked by systematic sexual violence, abductions, mass killings, the looting of humanitarian aid and the occupation of medical facilities. Both sides have laid siege to towns, destroyed vital civilian infrastructure and blocked humanitarian aid. Six weeks ago, I was in Khartoum state. I arrived at the Al Nao hospital in Omdurman, supported by the Médecins sans frontières (MSF) just as the Rapid Support Forces had shelled the Sabreen market. The hospital was a scene of utter carnage: waves of patients with catastrophic injuries filled every corner of the emergency room. I witnessed the lives of men, women and children being torn apart in front of me. Al Nao is one of the few hospitals still operational in the area, and it has suffered multiple strikes over the past two years. That same week, the Sudanese Armed Forces bombed a peanut oil factory and civilian neighbourhoods in Nyala, South Darfur, overwhelming the MSF-supported hospital with casualties. Meanwhile, the Rapid Support Forces were pushing into Zamzam camp, in North Darfur, following months of siege and starvation. The field hospital MSF supported there, designed for paediatric and maternal care — not war trauma — received 139 wounded patients before the attacks forced us to suspend our activities, leaving behind a besieged and starving population. But those are just the latest examples of how this war is being waged. From the very start, the violence has been merciless. In West Darfur, the violence reached unthinkable levels, culminating in massacres targeting an entire community between June and December 2023. Our teams in Chad treated more than 800 wounded people in just three days, as thousands of Masalit civilians fled El Geneina after the Rapid Support Forces seized the city. Survivors told us how simply belonging to the Masalit community had, in itself, become a death sentence. As my colleague from UNICEF eloquently described today, sexual violence is pervasive in the Sudan. In South Darfur, throughout 2024, our teams provided care to 385 survivors of sexual violence. The vast majority, including some younger than five, had been raped, often by armed men. Nearly half were assaulted while working in the fields. Women and girls are not merely unprotected, they are being brutally targeted. MSF is operating medical programmes in more than 22 hospitals and 42 primary health facilities across 11 of the Sudan’s 18 states. In Khartoum, South Kordofan, Violence against civilians is driving humanitarian needs, but it is not a mere by-product of the conflict — it is central to how this war is being waged across the Sudan, a war being further fuelled from the outside. Its devastating impacts are compounded by restrictions on humanitarian access — whether deliberately imposed or the result of bureaucratic paralysis, insecurity or the breakdown of governance and coordination. We have seen some progress on some fronts: cross-border access to Darfur through Adré, improved visa processing for international staff and the opening of specific airstrips for humanitarian flights in Dongola and Kassala. However, the gains remain negligible compared to the overwhelming scale of needs. Despite the clear urgency of the situation, the delivery of humanitarian assistance in the Sudan remains exceedingly — and, in some cases, deliberately — complex. Securing travel permits is challenging, cross-line access requires gruelling negotiations and, despite prior agreements, vital United Nations humanitarian hubs in Darfur remain blocked. In Rapid Support Forces-controlled areas, the armed group and its affiliates have arbitrarily delayed aid convoys — sometimes for weeks  — and imposed unjustifiable tolls and taxes. To transport one 60-ton consignment of humanitarian assistance from N’Djamena to Tawila, North Darfur costs a staggering $18,000, over a third of which must be paid on the road. Through the Sudanese Agency for Relief and Humanitarian Operations, the Rapid Support Forces are imposing crippling bureaucratic hurdles. Aid organizations trying to deliver aid in Rapid Support Forces-controlled areas face an impossible choice: comply with the Sudanese Agency’s demands to formalize their presence and risk expulsion by the authorities in Port Sudan or refuse and have their operations shut down by the Agency. Either way, life-saving assistance hangs in the balance. Assertions of sovereignty cannot continue to be weaponized to restrict the flow of aid. Aid and aid agencies cannot continue to be exploited to derive legitimacy. Despite the courage and dedication of local and international humanitarian workers, the response remains inadequate. The system is mired in tactical thinking, endlessly negotiating narrow exceptions when it should be driving a response that truly meets the scale of the crisis. Consider the Adré crossing — open for cross-border humanitarian supplies for six months, yet only 1,100 trucks have reached Darfur — an average of just six per day for all of the Darfur region. In our estimate, 13 trucks per day are required to meet the nutritional needs in Zamzam camp alone. Another example is the Mornei Bridge, a vital passage for aid moving from West Darfur to Central and South Darfur. It collapsed in August 2024. Now, 217 days later, it remains unrepaired, making it more difficult for millions to receive assistance. How is it that such fundamental obstacles to humanitarian aid remain unaddressed? The Council has repeatedly called for an end to the conflict, adherence to international humanitarian law, the protection of civilians and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid. Yet its calls ring hollow. While statements are being made in the Chamber, civilians remain unseen, unprotected, bombed, besieged, raped, displaced and deprived of food, medical care, and dignity. The humanitarian response falters, crippled by bureaucracy, insecurity, hesitation and what threatens to become the largest divestment in the history of humanitarian The Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan, which the Council often invokes, should have been a watershed moment. Yet, without monitoring, without accountability and without leadership, the agreement has become little more than a convenient rhetorical shield invoked to signal concern while absolving those with responsibility and influence from taking action. What is needed today is a new humanitarian compact — one founded on a shared commitment to civilian protection, a compact that guarantees aid organizations the operational space they need, one that enforces a moratorium on all restrictions on humanitarian assistance and ensures that the response remains independent from political interference. It must replace the current system of gatekeeping with one that upholds the survival and dignity of the Sudanese people. Such a compact requires both the political will and the leadership capable of bringing the warring parties into alignment with humanitarian imperatives. It must be independently monitored and underpinned by a robust accountability mechanism that ensures that all parties to the conflict are held to their commitments. However, even the strongest agreement will falter without the engagement of donors and a more proactive approach from the United Nations Secretariat. To Member States: the response must be bolstered by increased and sustained funding. To the Secretary-General: full redeployment of United Nations humanitarian agencies must be mandated in Darfur and across the Sudan. The rainy season looms large, and the hunger gap will widen. The crisis in the Sudan demands a fundamental shift away from the failed approaches of the past. Millions of lives depend on it.

I thank Mr. Lockyear for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements. Lord Collins of Highbury (United Kingdom): I thank our briefers from UNICEF and Médecins sans frontières. As they made clear, women and girls in the Sudan continue to face the worst horrors of this conflict. Almost two years since the fighting began, more than 12 million people are now at risk of sexual and gender-based violence, according to UNICEF reports. And the Sudan’s healthcare system has been decimated by the conflict, making it even harder for survivors to access support. The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary travelled to the Sudan-Chad border in January and met survivors of sexual violence, who shared their harrowing stories of rape and torture. And the independent international fact-finding mission for the Sudan has reported that rape and gang rape are widespread in the context of the conflict in the Sudan. Acts of sexual violence constitute crimes under international law, and it is the responsibility of the Council to act. It is clear that greater international action is needed to tackle widespread sexual violence in the Sudan. The United Kingdom is committed to playing its part. This week, I joined a meeting of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, convened by Ukraine, to discuss the urgent need for joined-up, survivor- centred responses. Through the United Kingdom-funded Women’s Integrated Sexual Health programme, we are providing sexual and reproductive services to women and children in the Sudan. We are also working with United Nations and non-governmental But to have most impact, it is important that the international community come together to address sexual violence in the Sudan by taking four key steps: first, by continuing to press the warring parties to comply with the commitments they made to protect civilians in the Jeddah Declaration; secondly, by giving support to civil society organizations on the ground, which are playing a crucial role in assisting survivors of sexual violence; thirdly, by supporting the International Criminal Court and the independent international fact-finding mission for the Sudan to carry out impartial investigations; and fourthly, by ensuring that the protection of civilians remains at the top of the Council’s agenda. Looking ahead, in April, the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary will convene Foreign Ministers in London to help end the conflict and to improve the humanitarian response. Bringing an end to the conflict will be a critical step towards ending sexual and gender-based violence in the Sudan. We must continue working together closely until we achieve that goal.

First of all, Panama would like to thank Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, and Mr. Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General of Médecins sans frontières, for the valuable information that they shared with us on the full range of different aspects of the humanitarian crisis and for their humanitarian work in the Sudan. We would also like to thank the representatives of the Sudan and the United Arab Emirates, who have honoured us with their participation this morning. Panama attends this meeting with great concern about the critical humanitarian situation facing the Sudan, particularly with regard to the serious human rights violations faced by the civilian population and the sexual violence perpetrated in the context of the armed conflict, which has reached atrocious and unacceptable levels. We would therefore like to focus our attention on that aspect today. Women and children in the Sudan are being disproportionately attacked, harassed and abused. It is estimated that more than 12 million women and girls and an increasing number of men and boys are at risk of falling prey to sexual violence in the Sudan. According to recent UNICEF reports, and as we heard this morning, sexual violence has been used as a tactic to humiliate, dominate and morally destroy the population, especially women and children, in order to sow fear in communities. Sexual and gender-based violence have been widely used as weapons of war and have exposed the lack of protection for women and children, who have become the victims of systematic and dehumanizing abuse and of unparalleled cruelty. Gender-based violence is not only collateral damage caused by the conflict; it is also one of the most destructive weapons used to dismantle the resistance and hope of the Sudanese people. Women’s rights defenders are being attacked and silenced. Amid that context of violence, they are also victims of reprisals for denouncing those abuses. We echo the testimony of a courageous human rights defender who pointed out that women are not a complementary part of peace processes; rather, they are at the centre of such efforts. Similarly, attacks on civilian infrastructure, medical facilities and medical and humanitarian personnel continue unabated. According to reports, hospitals have been attacked with missiles and heavy artillery, rendering them non-functional, claiming the lives of patients and humanitarian personnel and depriving the population of medical care and basic services, all of which may constitute crimes against humanity. We urge the parties to the conflict to comply with the commitments made in the 2023 Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan and Panama calls on the Council to prioritize the protection of women and children in all peace and dialogue processes. We urgently call for immediate steps to be taken to ensure accountability for those crimes and to ensure that women’s rights are fully recognized and respected in all peace negotiations. Panama strongly condemns the impunity surrounding war crimes and reaffirms its commitment to the protection of children in conflict situations. Panama will continue to support all international efforts aimed at guaranteeing their safety, well-being and future.

I would first like to thank the Executive Director of UNICEF, Ms. Catherine Russell, and the Secretary General of Médecins sans frontières, Mr. Christopher Lockyear, for their briefings. I would also like to acknowledge the presence among us of Lord Ray Collins of Highbury and the Permanent Representative of the Sudan. I would like to emphasize three points. First, as the speakers have reminded us, the humanitarian situation in the Sudan is tragic and is constantly deteriorating. The civilian population is the first to suffer the consequences of this conflict. The number of children killed or maimed in the Sudan has reached unprecedented levels. France is concerned about the upsurge in conflict-related sexual violence and gender-based violence, to which millions of children, including infants barely a year old, are exposed. The only way to remedy the humanitarian catastrophe in the Sudan is for the parties to the conflict to conclude a ceasefire as quickly as possible, as the Security Council has already urged them to do. France calls on all Member States to refrain from providing any logistical, military or financial support to the parties. Secondly, more must be done to protect civilians. The Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces must honour the commitments made in the Jeddah Declaration. All parties to the conflict must respect international law and international humanitarian law. Attacks on populated areas and civilian infrastructure must cease immediately. The destruction of schools and hospitals and damage to the electricity grid are of particular concern. France is in favour of decisive action by the Council to enhance the protection of civilians. We support the implementation of a monitoring and verification mechanism for the commitments set out in the Jeddah Declaration. With regard to the monitoring of serious violations committed against children in the Sudan, France supports the implementation of the monitoring and reporting mechanism set up by the Security Council. Thirdly, the parties must allow full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to the whole of the Sudan, across borders and front lines. Humanitarian workers must be protected. Unjustified bureaucratic obstacles must be removed. The open crossing points at Adré and with South Sudan are essential for the delivery of humanitarian aid. As it has done since the beginning of the conflict, France remains active on the Sudan. It will jointly organize a conference in London on 15 April, together with the United Kingdom, Germany and the European Union. The international community must remain mobilized in support of the Sudanese population, which has been enduring the devastating consequences of this conflict for almost two years.

First of all, I would like to thank Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, and Mr. Lockyear, of Médecins sans frontières for the sobering accounts of the situation in the Sudan they gave us. The conflict has had shocking consequences. It has caused immense human suffering. Countless innocent lives are being lost. At least 12 million people have been displaced, and 3 million have sought refuge in fragile neighbouring States. The conflict has also serious implications for the entire region, including South Sudan. I would like to make the following points. First, Pakistan firmly upholds the unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Sudan. We strongly condemn the signing of a charter to establish a parallel governing authority in the Sudan by the Rapid Support Forces and their allies. Any such external intervention, and any scheme that undermines the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, will further complicate the conflict, prevent an early solution and further undermine regional and international peace and security. Secondly, the humanitarian situation, as we heard, is alarming, particularly around the El Fasher and Zamzam camps. The violence against civilians is condemnable and unacceptable. We call on all parties to halt such violence and abuse, observe international humanitarian law and facilitate access to humanitarian assistance to the affected areas. The international community must work with the Government of the Sudan to help to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the country. The funding gap for humanitarian appeals must be fulfilled. We are deeply concerned about sweeping funding reductions and suspensions recently announced by some top donors. Thirdly, both the signatories of the Jeddah Declaration on the protection of civilians recently reiterated their commitment to the Declaration. Whatever our assessment, we must seek the implementation of those commitments. We appreciate the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, for working towards the implementation mechanism for the Jeddah Declaration. We also support the implementation of the Government of the Sudan’s national plan for the protection of civilians, which was submitted to the Security Council. That and other credible efforts for the protection of civilians must be promoted by the Council. Fourthly, as elsewhere, Pakistan calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an unconditional ceasefire. The parties should engage in good faith in a political dialogue and diplomatic efforts to find a sustainable political resolution of the conflict. It has been sufficiently evident now that the conflict will not be resolved on the battlefield. War will bring only more death and destruction to the Sudanese people. Pakistan appreciates the Sudanese Government’s post-war road map and efforts for the resumption of the political process. The road map reflects the Government’s commitment to pursue a political resolution to the conflict. The appointment of an independent Prime Minister and the formation of an independent national technocratic Government to oversee the transitional period could be steps in a positive direction. Finally, we support the various peace initiatives that have been undertaken to bring about peace and stability in the Sudan. Those initiatives must be consolidated in such a manner that they complement each other, under the auspices of the United Nations and the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General. Greece remains deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in the Sudan, particularly in the light of the ongoing violence, the grave humanitarian crisis and the alarming reports of human rights violations across the country. In that respect, allow me to emphasize three key points. First, the protection of vulnerable populations, especially children, is an absolute priority. As we heard from our briefers, the scale of violations against children in the Sudan is unprecedented. In 2024 alone, the United Nations verified more than 2,000 grave violations against children, with Darfur being the most affected region. More than 1,000 children have been killed or maimed, and thousands more endure inhumane treatment in detention facilities. We call on all parties to immediately release all detained children, end the recruitment and use of minors in armed conflict and ensure that schools and hospitals remain protected from military use. The abuses directly contravene the Sudan’s international legal obligations, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Geneva Conventions. We call on all actors to implement clear directives to prevent further violations and engage with the United Nations and other agencies to develop action plans to protect children from conflict. Secondly, ensuring humanitarian access and protecting civilians remains crucial. We call for unrestricted humanitarian access and the removal of all security and administrative barriers hindering aid delivery. The use of starvation as a weapon of war, condemned by resolution 2417 (2018), must end immediately. Reports of torture, forced labour and sexual violence in detention centres controlled by the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces highlight alarming violations. We call for immediate steps to allow for independent monitoring of detention facilities and to ensure full compliance with international humanitarian law. Women and girls remain disproportionately affected, facing gender-based violence, displacement and a lack of access to essential services. Greece emphasizes the importance of gender- sensitive humanitarian responses, including specialized healthcare, psychosocial support and legal assistance, to safeguard their safety and dignity. A substantial scale-up in humanitarian aid is essential to mitigate the suffering of the population. Thirdly and very importantly, there is an urgent need for a ceasefire and political solution. Without an immediate cessation of hostilities, the Sudan’s crisis will worsen, posing long-term consequences for regional security. Greece strongly reaffirms the Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and strongly condemns any attempts to establish parallel governing structures, which prolong the conflict and deepen fragmentation. We call on all actors to adhere to the Jeddah Declaration and engage in good faith towards a comprehensive political settlement. In conclusion, allow me to add that, at this critical moment, the Sudan needs more than words — it needs action by the international community. My country, Greece, remains committed to advocating for peace, stability and justice for all Sudanese people and remains ready to consider further Security Council measures to that effect.

We would like to thank the UNICEF Executive Director, Ms. Catherine Russell, and the Secretary General of Médecins Sans Frontières, Mr. Christopher Lockyear, for their briefings. We welcome the participation in this meeting by the Permanent Representatives of the Sudan and the United Arab Emirates. The armed conflict in the Sudan, which has lasted since the spring of 2023, is compounded by severe civilian hardship. The hostilities have disrupted up to two In its press statement of 5 March (SC/16012), the Security Council gave its negative assessment of the attempts by the RSF and its affiliates to establish parallel bodies of power. We are also receiving information indicating that anti-Government forces are planning to print and issue national passports for the Sudanese living in the areas held by them. They are also planning to issue their own currency. We strongly condemn such steps. We are convinced that the exclusive prerogative of the central Government to do such things is something that should under no circumstances be called into question, and we believe that the clandestine actions of the rebels, who are at pains to shore up their legitimacy and ambitions for power, should not be encouraged. What offers guarded optimism is the incremental liberation by the Sudanese Armed Forces of more and more areas of the country. In particular, the army is very close to clearing the central part of Khartoum. As we have seen in the liberated towns and villages in the central and eastern parts of the country, regaining army control is indeed bringing longed-for stability. Although it would be premature to say that the people in the areas that returned to the Government’s control are receiving everything they need, at least they are now more confident about the future and feel safer and more secure. The worn-out idea that nowhere in the Sudan is safe is hardly relevant now. It is of fundamental importance to pay attention to the proper funding for the humanitarian response plan in the Sudan. Last year, it was underfunded, and there is a danger that the situation could become even worse this year. Against that backdrop, the heaviest burden falls on United Nations humanitarian agencies and their partners. The scope of their activities is expanding owing to the efforts of Port Sudan. We are convinced that the path to alleviating people’s suffering and ensuring the uninterrupted supply of food and medicine lies in close cooperation between humanitarians and the incumbent Government. We must acknowledge that the authorities are also doing a great deal to stop violence against women and children. However, serious improvements in that regard will be seen only if the hostilities stop. Russia welcomes the active work being undertaken by humanitarian partners in the Sudan. We are convinced that humanitarian agencies will continue to adhere to the principles of impartiality and neutrality and will be depoliticized in their work on the ground. It is important to rule out any steps in their work that could be viewed as facilitating tendencies towards decentralization. We firmly believe that the current conflict in the Sudan can, and should, be settled through political and diplomatic means. At the same time, it is important that those efforts pave the way for launching a broad national dialogue that would involve all patriotic and sane forces pursuing an exclusively unifying agenda. It is crucial to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past when alien political schemes were imposed on the Sudan. The United Nations system, and especially the Security Council, should complement and advance the peace process in the Sudan rather than impose solutions that are predestined to fail.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council, namely, Sierra Leone, Somalia and my own country, Algeria, plus Guyana (A3+). We wish to thank Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, and Mr. Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General of Médecins sans frontières, for their As we speak, the situation in the Sudan remains deeply alarming and has taken a heavy toll on the lives of innocent civilians, particularly women and children. From our seats here, as members of the Council, we deal on a daily basis with the consequences of war, its humanitarian impacts and its spillover effects. But for civilians, regardless of their location, war destroys lives, hopes, careers, futures and families. War destroys the foundations of communities and nations. The most recent UNICEF report on the situation of children in the Sudan is simply horrifying. The cases documented in the report confirm, once again, the level of suffering and inconceivable violations that children in the Sudan continue to endure on a daily basis. Moreover, the Sudan’s healthcare infrastructure is targeted in frequent attacks, resulting in the collapse of the whole healthcare system and leaving hundreds of thousands of Sudanese without access to basic health services — a precarious situation that is having a detrimental impact on the most vulnerable and leading to increased mortality and increased suffering. Those disturbing developments are taking place on our watch, in a country where the largest humanitarian crisis in the world is unfolding. In the light of the current situation, we, the A3+, wish to underline the following points. First, civilians in the Sudan must be protected. The plight of women, girls and children is especially important in the application of protection measures. We condemn all forms of violations committed against civilians, and we call for the necessary investigations to be conducted to identify the perpetrators of those appalling crimes and to bring them to justice. We also demand an immediate end to violence against women and girls and other atrocities being inflicted upon them in the Sudan as a weapon of war. We emphasize the need to explore all possible ways to enhance protection for women and girls and to provide them with adequate support, including comprehensive mental health services and safe spaces. In that regard, recent reports of grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed by the Rapid Support Forces against women and children, in particular in Darfur, are a source of deep concern and require the Council’s resolve to address them urgently. As we engage in the sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, Sudanese women must not be forgotten. We applaud their resilience and reiterate our call for their full inclusion in all Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led political processes. In that context, we welcome the Sudan’s national plan for the protection of civilians, which includes combating violence against women and children as one of its main components. We encourage the prompt implementation of those actions. Secondly, attacks against critical civilian infrastructure, in particular hospitals, must cease immediately. Hospitals are the place where souls and bodies are healed, where hope is nourished. In no way must they be a source of danger or threat, and neither must they be targeted. We call, therefore, on all the parties to respect their obligations under international law, in particular international humanitarian law, and to honour the commitments that they made in Jeddah in May 2023. Thirdly, the need to scale up humanitarian assistance cannot be overemphasized. Mobilizing the necessary resources to fund the humanitarian needs and response plan is crucial. We call for a unified approach in that regard. Resources, including hygiene kits, psychosocial support for victims of sexual violence, healthcare and food, must flow freely into the Sudan. As mentioned in our previous joint statement (see S/PV.9869), the military solution regrettably seems to be the path chosen by the Sudanese actors. The protection of civilians, in particular women, girls and children, cannot be realized without laying the foundations for a national, inclusive, meaningful and Sudanese-owned political process. To that end, we call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and the resumption of dialogue, in particular given the implications for peace and security in the region. We also reiterate our call for the firm and public condemnation of foreign interference in the Sudanese conflict. As we conclude, we urge our Sudanese brothers and sisters to seize the opportunity of the holy month of Ramadan to observe a ceasefire and to give way to dialogue over violence.

I thank Executive Director Russell of UNICEF and Secretary General Lockyear of Médecins sans frontières for their comprehensive and sobering briefings. We welcome the participation of the representatives of the Sudan and the United Arab Emirates in today’s meeting. It is deeply regrettable that the warring parties in the Sudan continue to prioritize their political and military interests ahead of the Sudanese people. The humanitarian crisis in the Sudan has now become the most severe in the world in terms of scale, scope and regional impact. The most urgent step towards ending the crisis is for all warring parties to cease hostilities and fully implement the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan. However, we are gravely concerned that the Rapid Support Forces’ action to establish a parallel Government moves in the opposite direction. Tragically, that relentless war is persisting even during the holy month of Ramadan. However, we must not lose sight of the immense suffering of the Sudanese people. In that context, I would like to highlight three points. First, the need for the protection of civilians must be prioritized, particularly for women and children who are uniquely and disproportionately affected by the conflict. Sexual and gender-based violence, including rape, gang rape and human trafficking for sexual exploitation, is being systematically used as a weapon of war. Children, among the most vulnerable, are enduring unimaginable horrors. Of the 30 million people in urgent need of humanitarian aid in the Sudan, more than 16 million are children. UNICEF recently reported a sharp increase in grave violations against children, including the appalling rape of four one-year-old infants. Furthermore, the war is depriving millions of Sudanese children of their right to education. That loss will have long-term and devastating consequences, not only for their personal development but for the future of the Sudan itself. Those atrocities must end now. Most importantly, the warring parties must issue clear directives to their combatants to halt those horrendous atrocities. In addition, those responsible for the egregious crimes must be held accountable through both domestic and international accountability mechanisms. Thirdly, the humanitarian aid community must continue to strengthen coordination to ensure the efficient use of limited funds and enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian mechanisms. In 2024, the international community raised $1.8 billion to respond to the crisis in the Sudan. However, despite those significant contributions, the gap between needs and available resources continues to widen. To address that shortfall, we must diversify funding sources and ensure that resources are allocated and utilized with maximum efficiency. Given the restricted access of United Nations agencies and international non-governmental organizations to many parts of the Sudan, all humanitarian actors must enhance inter-agency cooperation to scale up coordinated assistance. Last year, the Republic of Korea increased by more than 10 times its humanitarian assistance to the Sudan compared to 2023. We remain steadfast in our commitment to sustaining those efforts. At the same time, our Government significantly expanded its overall global humanitarian assistance last year, nearly tripling its contributions compared to 2023, including a proportional increase in our support for UNICEF and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. We also stand ready to work alongside the international community in finding feasible and creative solutions to protect civilians and relieve humanitarian suffering.

I thank UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and Médecins sans frontières Secretary General Christopher Lockyear for their briefings on the horrifying developments in the Sudan. The United States condemns in the strongest terms the reported pervasive conflict-related sexual violence, perpetrated most extensively by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allied militias. That heinous violence, including rape and gang rape, against women and children as young as one year old, in some cases, is simply unconscionable. Such acts of brutality have been particularly widespread in the Darfur region, as reported by the Panel of Experts on the Sudan, established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005). We welcome the Panel’s critical reporting and expertise on those and other issues. But the appalling crimes described by today’s briefers occurred throughout the Sudan. In less than two years, the number of people at risk of conflict-related sexual violence has more than tripled to an estimated 12.1 million people. That is 25 per cent of the Sudan’s population. Perpetrators must be held accountable. As we have heard, while those perpetrators are primarily targeting women and girls, men and boys have not been spared. Hundreds of children are among the victims. That must end now. We share the Panel’s concerns about continued hostilities and belligerence blocking key routes for the delivery of humanitarian aid into parts of Darfur. The United States calls on the Sudan’s warring parties to immediately cease hostilities, allow unhindered humanitarian access and protect civilians. We have made clear to both sides that our interest is in the restoration of peace and an end to the conflict. Allowing the conflict to continue is a threat to the stability and security of the region and beyond. We welcome the Security Council’s agreement on a press statement calling out the RSF’s effort to establish a parallel Government (SC/16012). But one press statement is not enough. We call on all Member States to maintain pressure on the belligerents to end the horrific violence. I would like to say a word about humanitarian assistance. Consistent with President Trump’s executive order on re-evaluating and realigning United States foreign aid, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is conducting a review of all foreign assistance programmes to ensure that they are consistent with United States foreign policy. The Secretary of State approved a waiver for life-saving humanitarian assistance — covering emergency food, medicine, shelter and subsistence assistance, including for Sudan. Finally, the United States continues to support the efforts of the Secretary- General’s Personal Envoy Lamamra to use his good offices with the parties, leading to a sustainable solution to the conflict through dialogue.

Two weeks ago, in the Chamber, we stated that every time we addressed the situation in the Sudan, we received increasingly disturbing updates (see S/PV.9869). Little did we know that one of the worst was yet to reach us. Just days ago, UNICEF reported, “armed men are raping and sexually assaulting children, including infants as young as one, amid the nationwide conflict rippling across the Sudan.” Hardly any of us here has not held a one-year-old in their arms — a tiny human just beginning to explore the world, taking and balancing their first steps, a tiny human beginning to say its first words and forming attachments to people and the world around them. In the Sudan, some of children have endured unbearable horrors that would break an adult, let alone a fragile child. This is beyond inhuman. These horrors go beyond human comprehension. They are unacceptable, and they must stop. If our statements seem to become more emotional, it is because, in face of these horrors, they are. If it seems that we are growing more disturbed and appalled by the plight of civilians in the Sudan, it is because we are. If it seems that our frustrations over the persistent absence of tangible progress towards relief for the people of the Sudan are intensifying, that is because they are. Even wars have rules. Even in wars, rules honour human life. Since the outbreak of the war, the situation for civilians has been deteriorating to horrifying levels, with conflict-related sexual violence being weaponized, particularly against women and girls. They have been subjected to rape, gang rape and other forms of sexual violence, forced into sexual slavery and coerced into marriage. Men and boys have not been spared either. What we are seeing in the Sudan is a blatant disregard of norms, values and rules. We call for urgent action to address the unfolding humanitarian and protection crisis in the Sudan. We emphasize the urgent need to strengthen mechanisms for protecting civilians and to prevent further atrocities. Providing survivors with comprehensive medical, psychological and social care is essential for restoring their dignity and fostering resilience. Accountability is imperative. Conflict-related sexual violence is not only a serious violation of human rights, but it also constitutes a war crime or a crime against humanity. Slovenia calls for rigorous and impartial investigations into all violence and calls for perpetrators to be held accountable. Slovenia places particular emphasis on the protection and rights of women and girls. Their safety, dignity and access to critical services must be central to humanitarian and peacebuilding initiatives. We remain unwavering in our commitment to ensuring their active participation in every phase of conflict resolution and post-conflict recovery. I want to conclude, by expressing my deep appreciation to today’s briefers, Mr. Lockyear of Médecins sans frontières and Ms. Russell of UNICEF. I thank them sincerely — not only for sharing their insights today but, more importantly, for the invaluable and life-saving work they continue to carry out under the most difficult and dangerous circumstances. We emphasize the critical need for safety and security of medical and humanitarian personnel, as well as full and unhindered humanitarian access to the people in need.

I thank Executive Director Russell and Secretary General Lockyear for their briefings. I welcome the Permanent Representatives of the Sudan and the United Arab Emirates at today’s meeting. Next month will mark the second anniversary of the armed conflict in the Sudan. Sadly, the dawn of peace still has not emerged. Recently, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has launched frequent attacks on displacement camps in and around El Fasher, the hostilities among the parties to the conflict continue unabated and the civilian casualties and the scale of displacement continue to grow, deepening the already dire humanitarian crisis. The crimes of sexual violence mentioned by the two briefers are appalling. China calls on all parties to the conflict to implement the requirements of the relevant Security Council resolutions, respond to the universal call of the international community, achieve a Ramadan ceasefire without delay, work to de-escalate the situation and create conditions to improve humanitarian access and alleviate the humanitarian situation. China has stressed on multiple occasions that the parties to the conflict should abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law; effectively fulfil the commitments of the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan; protect civilians from being affected by the fighting; stop attacks that target hospitals, schools, markets and other civilian facilities; and guarantee the fundamental rights of vulnerable groups, such as women and children. International humanitarian agencies and humanitarian workers bear extremely high risks when saving lives. Their safety and security must also be guaranteed. China welcomes the efforts by the Sudanese Government to provide necessary support and guarantees for some of the returning displaced persons and encourages A week ago, the Security Council, through the President, issued a press statement (SC/16012) expressing grave concerns about the signing of a political charter and the declaration of the formation of a parallel Government by the RSF and other political factions. China notes that relevant parties have recently taken another step by signing a transitional constitution, a move that could aggravate tensions and heighten the risk of fragmentation and runs counter to the goal of conflict resolution. China reiterates that the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Sudan must be respected and that the Charter of the United Nations and international law should be observed. China supports the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Lamamra, in continuing to engage in shuttle diplomacy and urge the parties to the conflict to meet each other halfway, replace military confrontation with political dialogue and properly address differences through consultation and negotiation. We support the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and other regional organizations in stepping up communication and enhancing mutual trust with the Sudanese Government so as to ensure the effectiveness of African solutions to African issues. China stands ready to work with all parties to continue the active efforts for the early restoration of peace and stability in the Sudan.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Denmark. I too wish to start by thanking Executive Director Russell and Secretary General Lockyear for their briefings and for their organizations’ crucial work in the Sudan, and I welcome the participation in this meeting of the representatives of the Sudan and the United Arab Emirates. What our briefers have conveyed today is both horrifying and alarming. It should serve as a collective and urgent wake-up call. Allow me to make three points. First, the consequences of this horrible war on the physical and mental health of the people of the Sudan are staggering. One shocking aspect, as we heard today, is that conflict-related sexual violence is rampant in the Sudan. It is destroying lives, and it is going unpunished. Sexual violence is never, and should never be, an unavoidable consequence of war. It is an illegal and appalling atrocity. We call on the leaders of the warring parties to distance themselves from conflict-related sexual violence and to clearly convey that to their supporters. The crimes outlined by Executive Director Russell represent grave violations against children listed within our own children and armed conflict agenda. Furthermore, the targeting of healthcare facilities, leaving malnourished children and vulnerable populations without medical care, shelter or respite, is a further demonstration of the astounding cruelty of this war. That is taking place amid a staggering food crisis. Those realities represent a litany of violations against the Council’s own resolutions, including resolution 2286 (2016) on the protection of medical facilities and personnel in conflict. Secondly, as we have heard, the United Nations and most humanitarian partners are in a state of forced paralysis. The global humanitarian response has been tied in Thirdly, the atrocities committed in the Sudan are further fuelled by an insidious cycle of impunity. Around this table, we must work together to break that cycle, hold those perpetrators accountable and send a message that actions have consequences and that our own resolutions — such as the one referring the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court — must be complied with. We must ensure that protection is offered to all civilians. We can do that through a robust monitoring mechanism, on the basis of international humanitarian law and human rights law, aligned with the commitments of the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan. We welcome efforts on the political track to resolve this conflict. However, the conflict has raged for two years now, and talks have yet to yield results for the people of the Sudan. In conclusion, we urge the parties to engage in good faith and to focus on laying the foundation for peace in the Sudan by working with the international community, the United Nations and the African Union. Plans for a parallel governing authority imperil the unity of the Sudan, jeopardizing the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people. In the urgency of this moment, the Council must not absolve itself of its responsibility to save lives. We can no longer accept that the delivery of humanitarian aid be contingent upon political breakthroughs. We have the tools at our disposal. We have the facts before us. What we need to do now is act. Denmark stands ready to work with all Council members to that end. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of the Sudan.

I congratulate you, Madam President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month and, in particular, for your cooperation and communication with the Sudanese delegation and your visits to our Mission, increasing the value of your positive engagement with respect to the Sudanese conflict. We will continue to support that engagement. I also thank Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, for her briefing, and I would like to commend that organization’s efforts in trying to address violations and support children and its great achievements. We nevertheless maintain our reservations concerning some of the arguments made with regard to the protection of civilians. We also thank Mr. Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General of Médecins sans frontières, for his briefing. We thank him for his boldness, as one of those who was in Darfur. However, in spite of that, I want to briefly remark that when Mr. Lockyear visited us yesterday with his team, I asked him two questions that keep coming up: does Médecins sans frontières have any reservations or concerns about the Sudanese authorities? He did not mention any reservations. However, in his briefing, he cited numerous reservations. He should have shared them with us so that we could facilitate and smooth them out, as there is no bureaucracy, and the Sudan is working as part of a task force. Some of the statements made in his briefing were infelicitous and were not substantiated by other authenticated sources, particularly with regard to indiscriminate shelling. Other British nationals, specifically religious officials, noted that civilians had gone to the areas liberated by the army, in search I will stop there, and I also thank His Excellency Lord Collins of Highbury, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom and Special Representative of the Prime Minister on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. With regard to the remarks made by delegations on the protection of civilians and the political aspect, my only response is to point them to the road map, which will be sent to the Security Council, and to the Sudanese national plan on the protection of civilians, which we have provided to the Council. In my statement, I will focus on sexual violence, the rights of women, the situation of children and the health situation. The use of armed violence as a weapon of war by Rapid Support Forces militia fighters amounts to a war crime. That demonic violence has been used as a catalyst for the extensive spread of hate speech based on a narrative rooted in racial superiority, the establishment of slave markets for women and the sale of girls as slaves. We believe that the adoption of the National Plan for the Protection of Civilians will contribute significantly to promoting and enhancing the protection of women and girls and underscoring their key role in consolidating and strengthening security and national peace. The Unit for Combating Violence Against Women in the Sudan embodies the role of the State in protecting women and girls by overseeing the provision of safe houses and following up on its work in strengthening protection, integrated rehabilitation and methods of preventing sexual exploitation and abuse during humanitarian and emergency situations by managing social and humanitarian activities in shelters for displaced men and women and establishing protection committees staffed by volunteers to raise awareness in communities of refugees and displaced persons. The Sudanese Government also aims to prepare the first code of conduct to prevent misconduct and sexual assault in humanitarian work and promote the role of the State in alleviating the suffering of women, girls and displaced and refugee communities to prevent harassment, exploitation and gender-based violence in humanitarian situations, provide psychological support and prevent girl child marriage. With support from UNICEF, it also trains women social researchers and judicial, prosecutorial and police authorities to address and prevent gender-based violence, operationalize article 141 of the Sudanese criminal code, which criminalizes female circumcision, and provide counselling and awareness to bolster psychological resilience and recovery from the impact of the war, despite the lack of funding and the challenges of the psychological conditions in the states affected by the blockade. Efforts are being made to develop a harmonized protocol to regularize the status of mothers and children, establish a gender office in the family and child protection units to provide safe spaces for women and girls, facilitate women’s access to justice and strengthen partnership and coordination with the police in the areas of protection, awareness, abuse and sexual harassment in White Nile, Gedaref and Kassala states. The protocol is being currently circulated to all the states that are now safe havens, having been liberated from the grip of the militia, including Khartoum, Sennar, Gezira, West Kordofan, Gedaref, Northern and White Nile states, with a view to stepping up the contribution of women and girls in community peacebuilding and promoting food security through women’s economic activities. National efforts are being made to protect women and children to establish basic standards to deal with cases of gender-based violence, to report on the situation of women, girls and children and to carry out specific interventions during the war to improve women’s and girls’ access to justice and health and social services. Funded by the United Nations Population Fund, the national standard operating procedures for the prevention of sexual violence were reviewed and linked to emergency status and response mechanisms to enhance compliance with national guidelines on the response to gender-based violence. The first survivors’ shelter was opened to provide psychological, health and legal rehabilitation for women and girls who are survivors of sexual violence in a smart partnership between the unit to combat violence against women, led by Ms. Sulaima Ishaq, and civil society, the private sector, and Sudanese businessmen committed to strengthening the protection of women and girls. As for conflict-related sexual violence, the State is committed to making progress in the legal and practical aspects of combating conflict-related sexual violence in all its forms, including rape, sexual slavery, prostitution, forced pregnancy, abortion, sterilization and forced marriage, as set out in resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, and other resolutions on sexual violence against civilians as a weapon of war, closing gaps in protection mechanisms and ensuring female representation at all stages of peace processes. There are accountability systems to end such sexual violence and eliminate discrimination against women. Article 149 of the Sudanese Criminal Code of 1991 provided for legal and criminal protection in cases of sexual offences such as rape, with varying penalties of up to 20 years in prison, life imprisonment and the death penalty. The Children’s Code of 2010 has similar provisions. Those serious offenses were also included in the Armed Forces Act, as amended in 2013, concerning crimes committed against civilians by combatants in wartime and in conflict areas, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. It also includes the crime of murder of members of ethnic and religious groups with intent to commit genocide and partial or total destruction in the context of a systematic and widespread attack against such groups, as has been done when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) besieged the Masalit tribe for 56 days, exterminating and killing tribe members, some of whom were burned alive, as detailed in the testimony of the Sultan of Dar Masalit before the Security Council in December 2024 (see S/PV.9822). In addition, we also would like to mention the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2014 and the framework agreement between the Government of the Sudan and the United Nations to combat sexual violence in conflict situations, concluded after the glorious December revolution with Ms. Patten, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict. That agreement, which will be renewed when she arrives in Port Sudan in early April, stipulates that perpetrators of sexual violence against women, whether government officials or not, must be tried in fair trials by competent courts after investigations are conducted. The agreement aims to eliminate conflict-related sexual violence while ensuring there is no impunity and ending human rights violations through the establishment of specialized gender units in regular police forces and the employment of greater numbers of female officers, in addition to capacity-building for civil administration leaders. The RSF militia has employed systematic mass rape as the most heinous of sins during the war to humiliate and subjugate men in targeted areas, thereby eroding noble societal values. The militia resorted to that heinous act in a form of psychological projection that reflects their inability to seize power and the centre of political power, prompting it to violate the high moral values by force, using strangers, outsiders and mercenaries to increase the psychological and social stigma, supported by the regional sponsor. The sexual violence unit reports that 1,138 rapes have been documented in RSF-controlled areas and that those crimes were used as The Government of the Sudan is pursuing a new policy in that area and requires members’ support and the support of the United Nations and the international community. First, women’s access to justice must be facilitated, and safe abortions must be promptly provided in cases of violent sexual crimes, while ensuring confidentiality and privacy in the reporting of such crimes. Second, a protocol must be established for forced labour and other emergency situations resulting from sexual violence, with comprehensive care for mothers and children. Third, temporary shelters must be established for victims to provide integrated psychological, social and economic rehabilitation services, as well as multisectoral services for women survivors of gender-based violence, free legal aid, justice centres and temporary relief in the conflict areas. Fourth, the draft law on combating violence against women must be adopted to enforce the procedures of the criminal code concerning protection and reporting mechanisms and activating the role of State institutions in the protection and prevention of violence against women. Fifth, the new framework agreement to be concluded between the Government of the Sudan and the office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict must be implemented, to complement the national plan for the protection of civilians. Sixth, reproductive health services must be strengthened to provide comprehensive care for women survivors. Seventh, the health infrastructure that was targeted and destroyed by the militia during drone attacks must be rehabilitated. It must be noted that there are almost 6 million displaced women, and approximately 2.5 million girls are not attending educational institutions. That has exacerbated the risk of sexual violence at the hands of the militia and has increased the number of affected women and survivors with an urgent need for medical, psychological and legal support. Eighth, effective protection mechanisms must be supported to prevent conflict- related forced pregnancy and campaigns must be organized to raise awareness to combat all forms of gender-based violence and the systematic targeting by RSF fighters of women in conflict areas, while providing support to local women-led organizations. Safe havens must be provided for women, there must be an end to impunity for perpetrators of gender-based violence, and women must be involved in peace processes and decision-making. Turning to the situation of health and nutrition, referred to by the representative of UNICEF, regarding the food situation and what some organizations and circles have been repeating about the danger of famine, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry confirmed this week that the food situation is stable thanks to the efforts of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which is working hand in hand with the Ministry. The weather conditions, with increased rainfall As a result of the work carried out in the area of health by the authorities, including visits to shelters and treatment centres, the activation of the higher committee for combating epidemics and the enhancement of the activities of emergency rooms in various localities, medical supplies have been provided by humanitarian agencies, and cholera rates have fallen, with no new cases in the Sennar, Kassala, Northern, Red Sea and River Nile states. The incidence of transmissible diseases has decreased thanks to numerous recent major interventions, which are helping to stabilize the health situation in some states, including Gedaref. Meanwhile, the Government is continuing to organize the return of displaced people to their homes in various states, and efforts to restore services are being pursued. In addition, charities have provided tools and aid for the women’s empowerment programme, with arrangements being made with partners to provide inputs for women’s centres and banking efforts continuing to provide cash support to poor families in the coming period. The acute malnutrition rate was estimated at 6 per cent, with the average at 12 per cent nationwide in 2024. When it comes to the impact of the war on health infrastructure, 70 per cent of hospitals and health centres in the states of Khartoum, Darfur, Kordofan, Gezira, Sennar, Blue Nile and White Nile are non-functional. The militia targeted more than 250 public and private sector hospitals in rocket and drone attacks, crippling them. Twenty major hospitals in Khartoum and Gezira are not fully functional, while hospitals in Khartoum continue to come under bombardment by drones. Hospitals in El Fasher have been struck more than 15 times in rocket and drone attacks. The National Public Health Laboratory is out of service, as the militia has been using it as barracks since the first week of war. The loss of five health centres in Khartoum and the centre for cardiology and cardiac surgery in Wad Madani is estimated to have cost a total of $83 million. The National Medical Supplies Fund losses, including an entire year’s supply of medicines and vaccines for chronic diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus, amount to a loss of $500 million’s worth of supplies. The Federal Central Blood Bank was seized and is not operating. Vehicles and medicine trucks, including approximately 200 ambulances and 179 other vehicles, have been looted. Health workers have come under direct attack. More than 60 have been killed, including seven doctors, nurses and engineers in kidney centres who lost their lives while on duty. The total loss incurred by the healthcare sector is estimated at $11,042,300,000. According to a report by the organization Insecurity Insight published in February, the healthcare sector in the Sudan was subjected to 542 attacks, with hospitals, medical warehouses and care facilities sustaining damage in 136 incidents. Furthermore, medical facilities were seized on 41 occasions, 80 per cent of those incidents having been perpetrated by the RSF. Notwithstanding the country’s plight, the Ministry of Health has accomplished the following. First, most of the liberated hospitals have been restored to service, and five new hospitals have been opened, including more than 30 specialized neonatal care and emergency departments, during 2024. More than 50 new ambulances have been provided to the national ambulance fleet. Secondly, more than 10 million people have been immunized, and a malaria vaccination has been introduced for the first time in the Sudan. Thirdly, the continuity of child immunization services has been ensured, with vaccinations taking place in all states and localities of the Sudan. Fourthly, international partnerships with United Nations agencies and

I now give the floor to the representative of the United Arab Emirates.

I thank Executive Director Catherine Russell and Mr. Christopher Lockyear for their sobering briefings, which serve as a stark reminder of the profound suffering of the Sudanese people caused by the warring parties. We urge the Council to give serious consideration to their powerful recommendations. For 699 days, the people of the Sudan have been enduring a relentless nightmare — 699 days full of attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure, horrific acts of sexual and gender-based violence and unimaginable trauma, scarring an entire generation. The devastation is clear and has been caused by the reprehensible choices of the two warring generals, who remain hell-bent on continuing the war regardless of the cost to the Sudanese people. In such a bleak reality, we must prioritize measures aimed at safeguarding the people of the Sudan through robust mechanisms for the protection of civilians and an enhanced United Nations presence throughout the Sudan. There are three recommendations that I would like to make in this meeting. First, the United Arab Emirates urges the Council to include conflict-related sexual violence as a stand-alone designation criterion in the sanctions regime. The 221 verified cases of child rape reported by UNICEF with, as we just heard, 16 victims under five years old and four babies under a year old, must not go unanswered, and impunity must never be tolerated. All perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence in the Sudan and around the world must be held accountable. The United Arab Emirates unequivocally condemns in the strongest terms all forms of sexual violence. Those who have endured such horrors must have access to the necessary care, including mental health services and psychosocial support, and, as was said by Executive Director Russell, that will be needed long after the guns are silenced. The United Arab Emirates has provided $600 million of aid to the Sudan since the start of the conflict. That includes funding to the United Nations Population Fund to provide healthcare and support to Sudanese women and girls violated by acts of sexual violence, but far more is needed. Secondly, the Council should ensure that unhindered cross-border and crossline humanitarian aid can enter, as impediments continue to be imposed that prevent humanitarian aid from reaching those in need. That would be a crucial lifeline for civilians, in particular women and children, who are bearing the brunt of the war. We should not allow the system to fail the Sudanese people. The United Nations must meet the dire humanitarian needs and be where the people need it most. The United Arab Emirates remains steadfast in its commitment to alleviating the humanitarian catastrophe, including through the provision of aid to the people of the Sudan on the basis of need in full accordance with all humanitarian principles and irrespective of any political considerations. That is why, last month, on the margins of the African Union summit, the United Arab Emirates alongside Ethiopia, the African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development hosted a high- level humanitarian conference, which urgently called for a Ramadan truce — a call echoed by the Council itself and that regrettably remains unanswered by the warring parties, but one that we should all maintain.

The representative of the Sudan has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I now give him the floor.

I requested the floor to respond to what was just said by the representative of the United Arab Emirates. It is paradoxical for him to be describing the war that the United Arab Emirates, through its support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), started in the Sudan for the purposes of occupying its land and seizing its assets and wealth. That point is borne out by the report of the Panel of Experts, which leaves no room for any doubt about the destructive role being played by the United Arab Emirates in our country and the fact that all the crimes that the Council is now saying should be prosecuted are attributable to that evil role. If the United Arab Emirates does not cease its support for the Rapid Support Forces, including the Rapid Support Forces’ ridiculous parallel government, the suffering will continue. The Security Council should name the United Arab Emirates instead of saying that external elements are interfering. The only external element interfering in the war is the United Arab Emirates. The country’s supporters in the media reiterate that, by saying that the United Arab Emirates wants to control the Sudan, as it has interests in the country. I would like to ask the following question to the Security Council, can interests be preserved only by wars, by killing innocent men and women, by supplying advanced drones to the militia that has launched 188 attacks against Darfur and bombed it from Chadian borders, by attempting to establish an airport in Nyala and by landing planes on the dirt paths in Nyala to supply weapons to the militia? Is the representative of the United Arab Emirates not ashamed to say that his country provides humanitarian support to the Sudan? He said that his country provided $200 million during an event in Ethiopia, but the next day the RSF militias said they would use that money to buy weapons and planes for their new state or government.

The representative of the United Arab Emirates has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I now give him the floor.

It is an insult to the victims and survivors of these heinous crimes that, as the Security Council rightly tries to address and prevent sexual violence in the Sudan, the Sudanese representative is once again deflecting from the atrocities on the ground and seeking to lay blame elsewhere. The United Arab Emirates reaffirms that it has not been a party to that conflict, is not a party to that conflict and does not side with any party to that conflict. Falsehoods remain falsehoods no matter how often they are repeated, and those baseless allegations do not warrant any attention. The truth is that the warring parties are responsible for the deaths of the thousands of civilians and for the millions who are subjected to famine and destruction. They are responsible for the use of chemical weapons. They are responsible for the violation of women’s bodies as a weapon of war. They are responsible for the refusal to come to the negotiating table. They are responsible for gambling with regional peace and security. Again, only the warring parties can bring the war to an end.

The representative of the Sudan has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I believe that the Council has had the opportunity to hear the perspectives of all participants. With that in mind, I give the floor to the representative of the Sudan one final time.

The war will stop only when the United Arab Emirates stops supporting it. We have all the documents , including the reports of Congressmen and the reports of the departments undertaking research and investigations. We have submitted a 74-page complaint to the Security Council. The United Arab Emirates is guilty and is killing and shedding the blood of the Sudanese people in order to take control of the Sudan and take its wealth. We would have respected the United Arab Emirates if it had chosen the path of relations between peace-loving nations and friendly countries to protect its interests, which existed even at the time of the Islamists, whom they say they want to eradicate in the Sudan and are killing the Sudanese people via external elements in order to establish the new Middle East project. We call on the Security Council to mention and name the United Arab Emirates, in accordance with the reports of the United Nations and the testimonies of all impartial and independent Western institutions and with the testimonies submitted to the United States Congress so that it will stop supplying weapons to the militia. Currently, there is a document that has been submitted to Congress aimed at blocking United States arms shipments to the United Arab Emirates. The United Arab Emirates is supplying the militia with weapons from the United States in order to kill the Sudanese people, in violation of the bilateral arms agreement. I thank the representative of the United States for her statement today.

The representative of the United Arab Emirates has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I give him the floor one final time.

The Sudanese representative continues to misuse this platform in yet another tired attempt to peddle misinformation. Time and again, we have heard the Sudanese representative and the party he represents claim to be an advocate for peace. If they are in fact advocates for peace, why do they refuse to attend any initiative to end the conflict? Armies exist to defend their people, to shield women and children from harm — not to violate, abuse or kill them. Armies exist to ensure the country’s security and stability and to act as an agent for peace — not to wage war against its own population. Why does the Sudanese Armed Forces not take those responsibilities seriously? We once again call on the Sudanese Armed Forces to agree to a cease fire and engage in a political process rather than continuing the war, blocking aid operations and carrying on with its disinformation campaign against my country.