In order to set up the opening of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, representatives from both of the country’s warring groups are currently in Saudi Arabia. The parties have stated that they are not negotiating a cease-fire but rather are merely seated across from one another to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the nation of North Africa.
Pre-negotiations got under way on Saturday. The Saudi kingdom has already promised to donate $100 million in humanitarian relief to Sudan.
Mid-April saw the start of fighting in Sudan. Hundreds of thousands of Sudanese have been forced to evacuate their homes after only a few weeks of combat between the country’s military and a paramilitary organization, with many of the displaced Sudanese seeking sanctuary in neighboring countries.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, led by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, and the Sudanese military, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, have not spoken since the conflict started on April 15.
Ineffective cease-fire agreements haven’t been able to put an end to the fighting or even significantly lessen the violence.
In addition to the 100,000 who have fled the nation, the United Nations agency for migration recently reported that at least 334,000 people have been internally displaced as a result of the violence. Over 800,000 people may flee Sudan as a result of the conflict, the U.N. agency for refugees has warned.
Due to the absence of security, the majority of humanitarian operations have been halted or drastically reduced. There have been fatalities among the aid personnel.
Aid missions have also been impeded by looting.
The World Food Program said that between $13 million and $14 million worth of food had been taken from its warehouses located throughout Sudan.
The Sudanese Red Crescent Society is attempting to provide help to 200,000 people, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies recently announced that it has opened an emergency appeal in support of that endeavor.
Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and The Associated Press all contributed information to this article.
