UN humanitarian chief meets Sudan’s army leader to ensure life-saving aid reaches all areas amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis.
PORT SUDAN: UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher described his Tuesday talks with Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan as constructive.
The discussions focused on ensuring life-saving aid reaches all corners of the war-ravaged country.
Since April 2023, the war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has killed tens of thousands.
The conflict has displaced millions, creating one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
“I very much welcome the constructive conversations with President Burhan this afternoon, aimed at ensuring we can continue to operate everywhere across Sudan to deliver in a neutral, independent and impartial way for all those in such dire need,” Fletcher said in a video released by Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council.
The UN official’s comments came after he met with Burhan in Port Sudan, the de facto capital.
During the meeting, Burhan asserted Sudan’s keenness on cooperating with the United Nations and its various agencies.
Fletcher arrived in Sudan on Tuesday for a week-long mission to address the crisis.
He said on X he would work to stop the atrocities and back peace efforts.
The UN official also pledged to uphold the UN charter and push for access and funding for humanitarian teams.
The talks come two weeks after the RSF captured El-Fasher, the last army stronghold in western Darfur.
Burhan had previously vowed his forces would take revenge and fight until this land is purified.
On Tuesday, Fletcher also met top Egyptian and Sudanese diplomats in Port Sudan.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for strengthening the international response to the current crisis.
He emphasized the need to ensure humanitarian aid reaches the most affected groups.
Despite the RSF agreeing to a truce mediated by the US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt last Thursday, attacks have continued.
On the day paramilitaries agreed to the truce, the Sudanese Doctors’ Union said the RSF shelled a hospital in South Kordofan.
The attack killed five people while explosions were heard in Khartoum the following day. – AFP
