The spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, while briefing the media on Monday, said the Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, strongly condemned the indiscriminate attacks that took place on Saturday in El Fasher, the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur State.
Local authorities reported that at least 97 civilians were reportedly killed or injured when a hospital and a residential area came under attack.
“Ms. Nkweta-Salami called on the parties to stop the fighting and to do everything possible to protect civilians,” he stated. “And of course, a reminder that more than 10 million men, women, and children in Sudan have been displaced inside the country and across borders since fighting erupted in April of last year.”
Dujarric added: “This year’s humanitarian appeal for Sudan is still less than one-third funded, with USD 859 million in the bank out of the USD 2.7 billion that is necessary.”
Turning to South Sudan, the Secretary-General’s spokesperson revealed that the UN and its humanitarian partners are supporting the government’s efforts to prepare for what is expected to be the worst flooding in the area in about 60 years.
“For our part, we aim to assist some 2.4 million out of the 3.3 million people projected to be impacted by the floods from September onward. The plan is to provide health and nutrition services, as well as shelter, and food assistance to those affected,” he disclosed. “Our OCHA humanitarian colleagues tell us that – to do this – and to meet the needs of the new arrivals fleeing the conflict in Sudan – more funding for the humanitarian response in South Sudan is urgently needed. Since April of last year, when fighting broke out in Sudan, more than 770,000 returnees and refugees have fled across the border into South Sudan.”
According to Dujarric, this year’s appeal is also about a third funded, with USD 542 million in cash in the bank out of nearly USD 1.8 billion that is needed.
“It is also crucial that aid workers have safe and unimpeded access to reach those in need in South Sudan.” He stated. “Last month alone, there were nearly three dozen cases of violence against humanitarian personnel and supplies in South Sudan, mostly in the north of the country. That is what our humanitarian colleagues are telling us.”