réunion au Conseil de sécurité sur la situation au Soudan
Summary of the Upcoming UN Security Council Meeting on Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis
On Thursday, the UN Security Council (UNSC) will convene to discuss the prevailing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, a situation that has rapidly deteriorated following nearly two years of conflict. The meeting has been organized at the request of Denmark and the United Kingdom, and it aims to address the ongoing protection of civilians and the humanitarian consequences stemming from the violence.
Key speakers at the session will include Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Christopher Lockyear, the Secretary-General of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The representatives from Sudan are also expected to attend under Article 37 of the UNSC’s provisional rules of procedure.
The situation in Sudan has escalated into a catastrophic humanitarian emergency, characterized by significant civilian casualties, widespread displacement, and acute shortages of critical resources such as food and clean water. The conflict has resulted in the collapse of the health care system and essential services, leaving the civilian population in dire conditions.
Currently, approximately 12.8 million people have been uprooted due to the fighting, with around 3.7 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries, including the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan, and Uganda. This displacement is a stark indicator of the scale of the crisis.
During the meeting, concerns regarding the severe violations against children in Sudan are expected to be voiced passionately by Russell and various members of the Security Council. They will likely underscore the urgent need to protect vulnerable populations, particularly women and children who bear the brunt of the conflict’s consequences.
The ongoing hostilities exacerbate the humanitarian disaster, with potential long-term effects on a generation of children in Sudan, who face psychological trauma, interrupted education, and the unavailability of essential health services. The representatives may also shed light on the extensive barriers that hinder humanitarian access, urging the international community to take action to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those in necessity without delay.
Several council members are anticipated to call for measures to guarantee full and prompt humanitarian access, stressing the need for cooperation from all parties involved in the conflict. An emphasis on the necessity for secure routes for the delivery of aid and a cessation of hostilities to allow humanitarian workers to operate safely is also expected to be a focal point of the discussion.
In summary, the upcoming UNSC meeting represents a critical opportunity to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The situation, marked by mass displacement and severe resource shortages, necessitates immediate international attention and action to protect civilians and secure humanitarian access. The insights provided by UNICEF and MSF leaders will likely shape the council’s approach and urge the global community to confront the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict. Through collaboration and decisive action, there remains hope for alleviating the suffering of millions of civilians affected by this crisis.
