External flow of weapons into Sudan must end, insists UN’s Guterres

And amid spiralling violence and the massacre of civilians linked to advancing opposition forces in the Darfurs at the weekend, the UN chief called for an end to outside interference in Sudan that could lead to it breaking up into Government and opposition-held regions.

“I am deeply concerned that weapons and fighters continue to flow into Sudan, allowing the conflict to persist and spread across the country,” the Secretary-General said.

 

“The external support and flow of weapons must end. Those with greatest influence on the parties must use it to better the lives of people in Sudan – not to perpetuate this disaster.”

Tens of millions need help

Behind Tuesday’s grim two-year anniversary is the largest displacement crisis in the world – and the worst humanitarian crisis – UN agencies say. 

Basic infrastructure in the capital, Khartoum, has been devastated by fighting and aid teams have warned that help is needed urgently to support the estimated three million people who are expected to return there.

“The situation in Khartoum is extremely dire, especially in the areas where the conflict has been intense,” said Luca Renda, UN Development Programme (UNDP) representative for Sudan, following the city’s recent recapture by Sudanese Armed Forces.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva after an assessment mission to the capital, he reported seeing “massive destruction of infrastructure, no access to water, no electricity and of course a lot of contamination of unexploded ordnance”.

The massacre accredited to opposition Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their affiliates in Darfur’s Zamzam and Abu Shouk camp claimed the lives of 400 civilians and 10 medical workers from the NGO Relief International. 

It is just the latest tragedy in a conflict marked by horrific levels of sexual violence.

According to the UN migration agency, IOM, an estimated 80,000 people have already fled Zamzam but this number could reach 400,000.

Male residents were the “main target” and they have been fleeing to reach the regional capital, El Fasher, which remains under control of the Sudanese army despite ongoing assaults by RSF. 

Speaking from Port Sudan, IOM Chief of Mission in the country, Mohamed Refaat, said that women survivors of sexual violence told him how they had been attacked “in front of their injured husbands, in front of their screaming children”.

Linked to this is a staggering 288 per cent increase in demand for lifesaving support following rape and sexual violence, said Anna Mutavati, UN Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.

“We have also seen what is beginning to look like systematic use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war. We have seen women’s lives and women’s bodies being turned into battlegrounds in this conflict.”