Sudan on the situation in the country - Press Conference | United Nations | Humanitarian

Hybrid press briefing by Ambassador Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Sudan, on the situation in the country.

Sudan’s Ambassador Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed 12 May said the humanitarian situation in the country “has deteriorated and is getting worse,” and denied the Sudanese Armed forces are breaching ceasefire agreements.

Mohamed said the government “is exerting tremendous efforts to contain the impact of the situation in various aspects and was able to control or reduce the intensity of the devastation” but pointed out that “there is urgent need for humanitarian services at the border crossings which witnessed a crowding of citizens wishing to cross the border with children, elderly and sick.”

The Sudanese authorities, he said, “are working around the clock on the dates of figures of fatalities wounded, the IDPs or refugees,” and reiterated that humanitarian assistance operations “should be conducted on the basis of the internationally recognized guiding principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, and that the sovereignty territorial integrity and national unity must be fully respected.”

The Ambassador said the Sudanese Armed Forces “are not launching an offensive they are actually making a defensive” and “will not open fire only if they have been attacked.”

He said, “from time to time there will be a kind of what apparently may be as a breach of the ceasefire. But actually, this is not meant. And this is actually not the case.”

Secretary-General António Guterres today welcomed the signing by the parties to the conflict of the Declaration of Commitment to protect civilians and guarantee the safe passage of humanitarian aid in the country.