UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for urgent measures to protect civilians in war-torn Sudan, highlighting the dire humanitarian crisis resulting from ongoing violence. He emphasized that current conditions do not allow for the deployment of UN forces, despite the overwhelming need for civilian protection.
The conflict, which began in April 2023 due to a power struggle between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has led to the largest displacement crisis globally, with approximately 25 million people requiring aid and 11 million displaced internally.
Guterres referred to the situation as a resurgence of mass ethnic violence reminiscent of the Darfur conflict, where atrocities included killings and sexual violence. He acknowledged calls from Sudanese and human rights organizations for a neutral force to assist civilians, but reiterated that the conditions for a UN deployment are not currently favorable.
