Refugees and IDPs coordinating body in Sudan’s Central Darfur State is calling on the United Nations to put more pressure on the warring parties to end the devastating war in the country.
International efforts to mediate the conflict have so far failed. There have been at least nine ceasefire agreements, and all have broken down, while shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel have worsened due to the disruption of trade routes, which has also pushed up prices.
About 5.4 million people have fled their homes and sought refuge within Sudan or neighbouring countries since fighting started in mid-April between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (SRF), according to the latest UNOCHA report.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Saturday, Adam Mohamed Rijal, the spokesman for the General Coordinating Body for Displaced Persons and Refugees in Zalingei town of Central Darfur State, called on the United Nations to play the role of mediation and put pressure on both sides of the conflict to bring about peace.
He said the war has affected the education sector, pointing out that children are displaced, and some have been recruited into the armed groups.
“The United Nations must mediate to persuade the two parties to sit down for dialogue. If the conflict continues, Sudan will collapse, and the social fabric will be torn apart. The impact of the war in Sudan will spread to neighbouring countries, threatening international peace and security,” he said.
“Sexual violence during the ongoing war is high, and the communications network was completely cut off, and it became difficult to collect data on women subjected to sexual violence,” he added.
The spokesman stated that war victims need aid, appealing to international organizations to fulfil their moral and humanitarian duty and stressed that perpetrators of sexual violence must be brought to justice.
Rijal pointed out that the food provided to the refugees and displaced people is inadequate, calling on the international community to scale up its support for the war-affected people in Sudan.