The United States has issued a dire warning about the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan, stating the urgent need for international intervention and aid access.
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield and USAID Administrator Samantha Power spoke in a press call on June 14, 2024, urging immediate action to address the catastrophe unfolding in the war-torn country.
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield painted a harrowing picture of the situation in Sudan, particularly in Khartoum and West Darfur. “We need the world to wake up to the catastrophe happening before our very eyes,” she emphasized, describing the destruction and humanitarian needs exacerbated by ongoing ethnic massacres and food shortages.
The ambassador highlighted the nearly 25 million people in dire need of humanitarian assistance, with mortality projections estimating that over 2.5 million people could die by September.
The US is pressing for the enforcement of a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted on June 13, 2024, demanding an end to the siege and offensive in El Fasher, as well as free flow of humanitarian aid into Darfur and across Sudan. The resolution calls for a ceasefire and measures to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access.
Administrator Power underscored the gravity of the crisis, comparing it to past famines in Somalia and Ethiopia, and pointed out the deliberate obstruction of aid by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF). “It is obstruction, not insufficient stocks of food, that is the driving force behind the historic and deadly levels of starvation in Sudan,” Power stated.
To support the humanitarian surge, the United States announced an additional $315 million in aid through USAID and the Department of State. Power called on other countries to fulfill their pledges made in Paris two months ago, stressing the need for immediate and substantial support to prevent millions of deaths.
In response to questions about the ceasefire negotiations and the involvement of foreign sponsors, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield and Administrator Power highlighted the importance of external actors ceasing their support for the conflict. The US has engaged with countries like the UAE, Russia, and Iran, urging them to stop fueling the war.
The situation in El Fasher remains critical, with the RSF pushing deeper into the city. Both officials warned of the potential for mass atrocities if the city falls entirely under RSF control, stressing the need for urgent international intervention to halt the fighting and protect civilians.
The call ended with a renewed appeal for global solidarity and immediate action to address the humanitarian disaster in Sudan. “It is time for partners around the world to stand with the people of Sudan”.
