Item 4 General Debate

March 19th, 2024

Mr President,

This statement is on behalf of the Troika for Sudan – USA, Norway and the UK– and supported by 40 other countries.

We welcome the organisation of a humanitarian conference for Sudan and neighbouring countries next month in Paris, exactly one year since the beginning of a conflict that has had catastrophic humanitarian consequences for the Sudanese people.

Nearly 18 million people are suffering crisis levels of food insecurity. Humanitarian workers are blocked from reaching the people in need. The longer this conflict lasts, and the further fighting spreads, the greater that need will become. We call on all parties to accept a Ramadan ceasefire, in line with Security Council Resolution 2274.

The Sudanese Armed Forces' withdrawal of permission for aid deliveries through the major crossing points from Chad into Darfur is indefensible. It has exacerbated the suffering in Darfur, where civilians are already in dire need after suffering relentless atrocities by the Rapid Support Forces.

We call on the SAF to uphold fully their commitments to facilitate cross-line and cross-border operations, re-open fully the vital Adre crossing point, and refrain from any measures that prevent life-saving aid reaching those in need.

The vital work of local responders, UN agencies, and international partners must be allowed to proceed. The warring parties must ensure the security of humanitarian actors and refrain from diverting life-saving supplies for themselves – and hold their personnel accountable when they go against these principles.

Mr President,

The death toll in Sudan is likely far greater than the 14,000 verified to date. Every day humanitarian assistance is prevented from reaching those in need, that number will rise, and the Sudanese people move further toward catastrophic levels of food insecurity.

We call on all parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and the Jeddah Declaration, and to allow full, rapid, safe, and unhindered cross-border and cross-line humanitarian access, so that we can, collectively, protect Sudan's people from even more suffering and death.

Thank you.