Statement by Ambassador Sarah MacIntosh, UK Permanent
Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on
Sudan.
"The war in Sudan has created the world's worst humanitarian
crisis.
Fighting has spread throughout Sudan, fuelled by arms supplies
from within and beyond the region, funded, at least in part, by
abduction for ransom and abuse of Sudan's natural resources
including gold, and exacerbated by massive use of drones
With 33 million people needing humanitarian assistance; gross
violations of human rights; civilians targeted with attacks,
torture and arbitrary detention; horrifying sexual violence; and
deprivation of essential services.
An end to this suffering will only come through an
humanitarian truce, a permanent ceasefire and an inclusive
civilian-led political process to secure a sustainable
peace.
Three issues need our support.
First, the choices of peace.
The United Kingdom welcomes and supports work to broker a
humanitarian truce led by the US, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and UAE;
work towards confidence-building measures by Envoy Haavisto; and
work to build an inclusive inter-Sudanese dialogue as a
foundation for a peaceful political transition led by the Quintet
of international organisations.
But the choices needed to make peace in Sudan lie with the
leaders, fighters, funders and fuellers of the war.
So we also urge Sudan's warring parties to choose to engage with
peace processes; those supplying, funding and fuelling the
war to choose to stop; leaders and fighting forces to choose to
meet their obligations to act in accordance with the laws of
war, to enable humanitarian access, and to protect
civilians - not attack, torture, maim and deprive them; and
all those with influence, to choose to use it to press for
peace.
Second, until the parties choose peace, we can help to
protect civilians, to limit the flows of arms that fuel
conflict, and to raise the cost to perpetrators of their
actions.
By extending the sanctions regime to respond to the war as it is
being fought, covering the areas where fighting is; drones;
sexual violence; mercenaries.
And by reminding leaders of fighting forces and militias that new
technology and new tactics do not change their fundamental
obligations to comply with international humanitarian law.
Sudan has become a battlefield where restrictions are too often
ignored and protections too often fail.
Our action to change that could mitigate the human suffering of
the people trapped in these wars.
And these measures should form part of a broader strategy to use
the tools we have to protect civilians, constrain conflict, and
support mediation efforts towards peace.
Third, by supporting the humanitarian agencies working with
people trapped in this war, and led by OCHA, thank you.
Humanitarian access continues to be obstructed by all parties to
the conflict. With costs measured in lives: families
starving, communities cut off from the support they need to
survive, and humanitarian workers under fire.
We call on the parties to facilitate rapid and unimpeded
humanitarian access to those in need.
The United Kingdom is supporting the people of Sudan
with humanitarian assistance: $200m this year, to reach
over 1.8 million people with food, nutrition, healthcare, clean
water, and protection services.
And increasing support to Sudanese-led responders, who can reach
communities that others cannot.
Pushing for protection, using our diplomacy to press for
humanitarian access, an immediate truce, and a permanent
ceasefire.
Backing peace: supporting mediation efforts and an inclusive,
Sudanese-led political process.
Raising the cost of failing to protect civilians with UK
sanctions on those committing atrocities, recruiting mercenaries,
and conflict financing networks.
And pursuing accountability: targeting those responsible for
atrocities and those who sustain this war; through work to
document, verify and preserve evidence of attacks on civilians
and civilian infrastructure; through the Coalition on Atrocity
Prevention and Justice; and by supporting the UN Fact-Finding
Mission, the Panel of Experts, and the International Criminal
Court.
Mr President, the things that Sudanese civilians want: an
end to war; safety for their families; access to food, healthcare
and education; the chance to live free from violence; to see
their children grow up into safety and prosperity.
These are the things that almost every human being wants.
They, and the people of Sudan, need to remain in international
attention, and with international support to achieve them.
And the leaders, fighters, funders, and fuellers of this war need
to choose peace."
