The United Nations’ top humanitarian coordinator, Tom Fletcher, held a high-level meeting with General Abdelfattah Al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces, on Tuesday.
This diplomatic push aimed to secure vital access for delivering life-saving aid across the war-torn nation.
The meeting occurred in Port Sudan. Following the discussion, Fletcher described the talks as “constructive conversations.” The main goal was ensuring that aid agencies could “continue to operate everywhere across Sudan.” He stressed that delivery must happen “in a neutral, independent and impartial way.”
Addressing a Catastrophic Crisis
These talks are part of Fletcher’s week-long mission. The mission focuses on tackling a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The ongoing conflict between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has severely worsened this crisis.
Fletcher emphasized the international community’s readiness and capacity. “The humanitarian community stands ready to scale up and deliver life-saving support at the levels necessary,” he stated. He added that the aid is needed to reach “tens of millions of Sudanese people with food, with medicine and with medical support.”
His comments highlight the urgent need to bridge the gap between diplomatic agreements and the grim reality on the ground. Millions of citizens in the country currently face famine and mass displacement.
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