Madam President,  

The humanitarian situation in Sudan has gone from bad to catastrophic. 

The European Union reiterates its strong condemnation of the continuous fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces and their respective affiliated militias. 

Since the eruption of the conflict, the European Union has been working with international partners and neighbouring countries in order to end the conflict. The European Union encourages both warring parties to resolve their disputes via dialogue in an inclusive way, and strongly commit to a full cessation of hostilities so as to build space for a durable peace solution in Sudan. 

In this regard, the European Union supports efforts of the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) to secure an unconditional ceasefire and a resolution of the conflict in Sudan through political dialogue. We deplore the fact that over a month since the 41st Extraordinary Assembly [of the IGAD Heads of State and Government] in Djibouti, neither the Sudanese Armed Forces nor the Rapid Support Forces have honoured any of the commitments they made there while the suffering of the Sudanese people continues unabated. 

We are deeply concerned about the dire humanitarian situation in the country. Hence, today’s debate is a timely opportunity to discuss the threat of famine caused also by the expansion of conflict and violence into the agricultural regions of Sudan.  

In addition to the largest internal displacement crisis in the world, with over 7 million people displaced within the country - including over 5 million displaced as a result of the conflict - the Sudanese population now faces a severe nutrition crisis, with the highest rate of child malnutrition in the world. The World Food Programme estimates that 17.7 million people will be in high levels of acute food insecurity, including close to 5 million in emergency.  

Under peaceful conditions, a significant number of Sudanese would be harvesting and cultivating winter wheat now so they could provide for their households, families and support national food availability as a whole. For almost 10 months of intensifying conflict and intercommunal violence, agricultural activity has been hindered: farmers cannot import and face limited supplies at local markets while pastoralists are unable to access grazing areas due to insecurity. 

Since the start of the war, the European Union stepped up its efforts to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and the region with the additional funding of €60 million. Overall, the European Union has allocated over €128 million in 2023 to its humanitarian response in Sudan. EU humanitarian aid provides communities with health and nutritional care, food assistance, water and sanitation, shelter and also contributes to the nutritional treatment and care of children under the age of 5 and pregnant or breastfeeding women across Sudan. We are also working together with partners to promote safe access to humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians.   

The European Union and its Member States contributions represent a third of the total international response. However, this is far from enough. The situation in Sudan has become resource-demanding since the impact of the conflict is constantly increasing and the risk of famine is rising.  

Honourable Members, rest assured that we remain committed to the people of Sudan.  

This year, the European Union plans to continue supporting the population trapped in worst conflict-affected areas and those living in displacement hotspots with the necessary humanitarian assistance. 

Thank you. 

Link to the video (starting at 14:25): https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-251444