Statement delivered by H.E. Amar Bendjama, Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations, on behalf of the A3+, at Security Council Briefing on the situation in Sudan
Thank You Madam President,
I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+, namely Guyana, Sierra Leone, Somalia and my country, Algeria.
We wish to thank Mrs. Catherine Russel, Executive Director of UNICEF and Mr. Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General of “Médecins sans frontieres” for their briefings.
We welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Sudan in this meeting.
As we speak, the situation in Sudan remains deeply alarming and has taken a heavy toll on innocent civilians, particularly women and children.
From our seats, as members of this Council, we treat, on a daily basis, with the consequences of war, its humanitarian impacts and spill-over effects.
But for civilians, regardless of the location: war destroys lives… hopes… careers…. futures…. families…. and the foundations of communities … and Nations.
Madam President,
The most recent UNICEF report on the situation of Children in Sudan is simply horrifying. The cases documented in this report confirm, once again, the level of suffering and inconceivable violations that children continue to endure in Sudan on a daily basis.
Moreover, Sudan’s healthcare infrastructure is targeted in frequent attacks resulting in the collapse of the healthcare system, and thus leaving hundreds of thousands of Sudanese without access to health services.
A precarious situation that has a detrimental impact on the most vulnerable and leads to increased mortality and suffering. These disturbing developments are taking place under our watch in a country where the largest humanitarian crisis globally, is unfolding.
Dear Colleagues,
In light of the current situation, we wish to underline the following points:
First – civilians in Sudan must be protected. The plight of women, girls and children is especially important in the application of protection measures.
We condemn all forms of violations being committed against civilians .and call for the necessary investigations to be conducted to identify the perpetrators of these appalling crimes and bring them to justice.
We also demand an immediate end to violence against women and girls and other atrocities being inflicted upon them in Sudan, as a weapon of war. We emphasize the need to explore all possible ways to enhance protection for women and girls and to provide them with adequate support, including comprehensive mental health services and safe spaces.
In this regard, the recent reports of grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed by the RSF against women and children, particularly in Darfur, are a source of deep concern and they require this Council’s resolve to address them urgently.
As we engage in the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, Sudanese women must not be forgotten. We applaud their resilience and reiterate our call for their full inclusion in all Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led political processes.
In this context, we welcome the Sudanese national plan for the protection of civilians, which includes “combatting violence against Women and children” as one of its main components. We encourage the prompt implementation of these actions.
Second – Attacks against critical civilian infrastructures, in particular hospitals, must cease immediately. Hospitals are the place where souls, bodies are healed and hope is nourished. They cannot, in any case be, a source of danger or threat, and must not be targeted.
We, therefore, call on the parties to respect their obligations under international law, particularly international humanitarian law, and to honor their commitments made in Jeddah in May 2023.
Third – The need to scale up humanitarian assistance cannot be over-emphasized.
Mobilizing the necessary resources to fund the humanitarian needs and response plan is crucial, and we call for a unified approach in this regard.
Resources that encompass hygiene kits, psychosocial support for victims of sexual violence, healthcare and food, must flow freely into Sudan.
In addition to an already dire situation, we are alarmed to learn of a Cholera outbreak in the southern parts of Sudan. Damages to the power plant in White Nile state, caused by an RSF’ attack, crucial to the main water station of the region, must also be addressed urgently.
Furthermore, the attacks perpetrated against IDPs camps in and around El Fasher, including the Zamzam and Abu Shouk IDP camps, are a further atrocity that must not be ignored.
While welcoming the efforts deployed by the Government of Sudan to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance, we call for the sustenance of these measures. We also underline the importance of close coordination between all humanitarian actors and the Government of Sudan.
Madam President,
As mentioned in our previous joint Statement, the military solution regrettably seems to be the path chosen by the Sudanese actors.
The protection of civilians, particularly women, girls and children, cannot be realized without laying the foundations for a national, inclusive, meaningful and Sudanese-owned political process.
To this end, we call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and resumption of dialogue, particularly given the implications for peace and security in the region.
We also reiterate our call for the firm and public condemnation of foreign interferences in the Sudanese conflict.
As we conclude, we urge our Sudanese brothers and sisters to seize the opportunity of the month of Ramadan to observe a ceasefire and to give way to dialogue over violence.
Thank You.
