CATASTROPHIC conditions in Sudan, where war has raged for 1000 days, require the British Government to improve its “inconsistent” leadership on the crisis, a coalition of 13 charities has said.
In a letter to The Times on Saturday, leaders at aid agencies, including World Vision, Christian Aid, and Tearfund, wrote: “As the UN security council lead on Sudan, the UK has a rare platform to drive action, but its leadership has been inconsistent. It is time for the Government to increase its diplomatic efforts to push for an immediate, nationwide ceasefire as the first step towards lasting peace.
“Sustained, rapid and safe humanitarian access across Sudan must be made a priority by the UK and the international community, alongside funding that reaches frontline responders so that aid reaches every community in need.”
The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is the largest in the world. Latest UN data indicate that 9.3 million people have been uprooted by conflict across the country, and more than 4.3 million have fled across borders. More than 21 million people are also believed to be acutely food-insecure across the country. One area of North Darfur, Um Baru, has the highest acute-malnutrition rate in the world at 53 per cent, according to the World Health Organization.
The Kordofan region, in the centre of the country, is now the focus of concern as the target of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. In just 12 days last month, more than 100 civilians were killed in drone attacks in South Kordofan, when a kindergarten and a hospital were struck.
Last month, the UK Government applied sanctions to four senior commanders of the RSF. But on Thursday, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the Conservative MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, raised concerns in the House of Commons about the Government’s “inconsistent and insufficient” use of global human-rights and anti-corruption sanctions (commonly known as Magnitsky sanctions).
He said that no action had been taken against the UAE, the RSF’s “key military and diplomatic backer”, and told MPs: “The RSF is responsible for brutal murders, rapes, attacks on hospitals and significant numbers of killings, and yet this organisation has been supported heavily by the UAE.”
The Foreign Minister Stephen Doughty said that the Government would “use all necessary means to bring an end to the war in Sudan”.
The UAE denies funding the RSF.
The Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has said that Sudan is a priority, and set out three priorities: protecting civilians; strengthening humanitarian access; and securing an immediate ceasefire and a political process to end the conflict.
Last month, the Government announced additional funding of £21 million for the crisis, taking the UK contribution to £146 million in 2025.
Manchester City FC is owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Vice President of the UAE. Protesters representing Christian Solidarity Worldwide are due to protest outside the Etihad Stadium in Manchester this week. There is, the charity says, “credible evidence that the UAE . . . continues to provide extensive military and financial support to the RSF”.
The CSW petition will be available to sign from Wednesday at csw.org.uk/eyes-on-sudan