The United States, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and several other nations have jointly called for temporary pauses in fighting in Sudan to allow life-saving humanitarian aid to reach millions of people facing starvation.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the group expressed deep concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis, especially in North Darfur and Kordofan. They said they were “appalled by the continuous deterioration of the situation, including severe malnutrition and famine, and by the obstacles that are delaying or blocking aid deliveries.”
The countries urged both the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to agree to humanitarian pauses that would allow food and medical supplies into affected areas and let civilians escape to safety. They also reminded both sides that international humanitarian law must be respected.
Sudan has been in turmoil since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the army and the RSF. The war has left nearly 25 million people in urgent need of food and other aid, according to the United Nations. Millions are cut off from help because of the conflict.
The UAE has been accused of supporting the RSF by supplying weapons, and Sudan recently claimed that the UAE hired foreign fighters to join the war on behalf of the paramilitary group. The UAE has denied these allegations.
The statement was signed by other key players in Sudan’s peace efforts, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the African Union, and the United Nations.
This appeal comes as the US faces criticism for backing Israel during its military campaign in Gaza, which is also experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis.
