Joint Ministerial Statement from the UK and partners on the
Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Operations in Sudan.
We express grave concern over the continued deadly unlawful
attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure and humanitarian
operations as heavy fighting across the Kordofan and Darfur
States continues. The recent severe escalation in drone and
aerial attacks including those affecting displaced civilians,
health facilities, food convoys and areas near humanitarian
compounds have resulted in a significant number of civilian
deaths and injuries and is further disrupting humanitarian access
and supply lines.
In recent weeks alone, drone and rocket strikes on trucks and
warehouses of the World Food Programme, as well as on health
facilities, have resulted in the deaths and severe injuries of
civilians and humanitarian personnel and the destruction of
urgently needed humanitarian supplies and infrastructure.
Intentional attacks against humanitarian personnel, vehicles, or
supplies, as well as wilfully impeding relief supplies, are
contrary to international humanitarian law and may amount to war
crimes.
The Darfur and Kordofan States remain at the epicenter of the
world's largest humanitarian and protection crisis. Sexual and
gender-based violence is rampant, famine is confirmed and severe
hunger continues to spread. Up to 100.000 people have been
displaced in recent months in the Kordofan states alone.
According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker
Türk, violations and abuses committed by the RSF and its allied
militias in and around El Fasher last October risk being repeated
in the Kordofan region. We urgently repeat our call to the Rapid
Support Forces (RSF), the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their
allied militias to immediately cease hostilities.
We condemn the abhorrent violence against civilians, particularly
women and children and all serious violations of international
humanitarian law in the strongest terms. These violations may
amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity and must be
promptly and impartially investigated, with those responsible for
international crimes brought to justice.
All parties must respect international humanitarian law which
includes an obligation to allow and facilitate the rapid, safe
and unimpeded access of food, medicine, and other essential
supplies to civilians in need. Civilians including humanitarian
personnel must be protected at all times, particularly women and
girls, who remain at risk of sexual and gender-based violence.
Those fleeing must be granted safe passage.
We stand with the people of Sudan and humanitarian organisations
– local and international – who are working tirelessly and under
extremely challenging conditions to assist them.
This statement has been signed by:
Johann Wadephul, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany
Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada
, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of
Italy
Baiba Braže, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Federal Minister for European and
International Affairs of Austria
Constantinos Kombos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of Cyprus
David van Weel, Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands
Dr. Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign
Affairs and Tourism of Malta
Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway
Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness
and Crisis Management
Helen McEntee TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of
Ireland
Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of
France
Jose Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European
Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain
Juraj Blanár, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the
Slovak Republic
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark
Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Estonia
Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden
Maxime Prévot, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign
Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation of Belgium
Oana Țoiu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand
, Secretary of State for
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United
Kingdom
Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Australia
Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and
European Affairs of Slovenia
Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Iceland
Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign
Affairs and Foreign Trade and Minster for Development Cooperation
and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg
Ana Isabel Xavier, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and
Cooperation of Portugal
Dominik Stillhart, Head of Swiss Humanitarian Aid, Deputy
Director General of Swiss Development Cooperation
Jiri Brodsky, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Czech Republic
Nikolay Berievski, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria
Péter Sztáray, State Secretary for Security Policy and Energy
Security of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary
Croatia
Poland
