National Statement for the Special Session on Sudan. Delivered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Minister for International Development and Africa.
Mr President,
We are appalled by the violence and specific targeting of civilians in the fall of El Fasher to the Rapid Support Forces. The reporting is horrific: ethnically motivated killings, executions, starvation and rape as a weapon of war.
These are not isolated incidents. Ongoing impunity, and reticence from the international community means the conflict in Sudan is now the largest humanitarian crisis of the 21st century.
Civilians are experiencing famine and famine-like conditions across Sudan. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces continue to obstruct assistance from reaching the over 30 million people who are in need.
The UK has announced an additional £5 million in humanitarian support, bringing our total this year to £125 million.
But aid is not enough. The guns must fall silent. We need a renewed push for peace, a ceasefire backed by global cooperation through the Quad and the UN.
Mr President, there must be accountability and that is not possible without facts. The Fact-Finding Mission is pivotal to establishing the facts surrounding the crimes committed in El Fasher, in order for perpetrators to be held to account.
I urge this Council to show the Sudanese people that they are not forgotten.
Thank you.
