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Speaking in the UN Security Council,\u00a0Ant\u00f3nio Guterres said: \u201cLet me be clear: the United Nations is not leaving Sudan<\/strong>. Our commitment is to the Sudanese people, in support of their wishes for a peaceful and secure future.\u00a0We stand with them, at this terrible time<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n In\u00a0a statement\u00a0issued earlier by his Spokesperson,\u00a0Ant\u00f3nio Guterres said the relocation exercise had been carried out \u201cwithout incident\u201d, adding that he appreciated the cooperation shown by Sudanese army personnel and paramilitaries from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), allowing safe passage to Port Sudan, on Red Sea.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Secretary-General\u00a0reiterates his call on the parties to immediately cease hostilities and allow all civilians to evacuate<\/strong>\u00a0from areas affected by the fighting.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. Guterres affirmed \u201cthe\u00a0continued dedication\u201d of the whole UN system, \u201cto stand with, and work for, the Sudanese people<\/strong>, in support of their wishes for a peaceful, secure future and a return to the democratic transition.\u201d<\/p>\n The warring factions had worked together since the ousting of long-term ruler Omar al-Bashir, four years ago, carrying out a military coup in a joint operation in 2021 which ended a military-civilian power sharing agreement. In recent months as negotiations over a return to civilian rule advanced, the two factions failed to agree an integration plan, on the road to the formation of a civilian government.<\/p>\n Addressing ambassadors in the Security Council during a general debate on the importance of multilateralism, Mr. Guterres condemned the \u201cindiscriminate\u201d bombing of civilian areas and facilities, calling on members \u201cto\u00a0exert maximum leverage with the parties to end the violence<\/strong>, restore order, and return to the path of the democratic transition.\u201d<\/p>\n He said he was in\u00a0\u201cconstant contact\u201d with military leaders<\/strong>\u00a0in Khartoum and has called on them to return to the negotiating table.<\/p>\n \u201cCivilians must be able to access food, water and other essential supplies<\/strong>, and evacuate from combat zones\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n In\u00a0its latest update, the UN humanitarian coordination office OCHA, reported that after nine days of fighting at least 427 people have been killed and more than 3,700 injured.<\/p>\n At least 11 health facilities have been attacked and many are no longer functioning at all in Khartoum and Darfur states.<\/p>\n In a statement issued by the UN Assistance Mission for the transition to civilian rule, UNITAMS, The Special Representative Volker Perthes, said that the relocated staff would be evacuated from Sudan, to neighbouring countries, \u201cwhere they will work remotely, as a measure to minimize risks to their safety while continuing to provide assistance to the Sudanese people.\u201d<\/p>\n About 700 UN, international non-governmental organisations (INGOs), and embassy staff and their families, have arrived in Port Sudan by road, he continued.<\/p>\n \u201cAlso, 43 internationally recruited UN staff and 29 INGO staff have already been evacuated from El Geneina (West Darfur) and Zalingei (Central Darfur) to Chad, while other operations are ongoing or planned.<\/p>\n‘Exert maximum leverage’<\/h2>\n
Death toll<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Relocation and evacuation plan<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\u2018Necessary measures\u2019 to protect Sudanese workers<\/strong><\/h2>\n