Thank you, Mr President.
Like my colleagues, I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo and OCHA Director Rajasingham for their presentations. A special thank you to you, Madam Ahmadi, for your strong and constant voice on behalf of those who suffer the most from this catastrophic war. A war that has no end in sight and, beyond the human suffering, leaves the whole country in ruins.
Colleagues,
We've just heard it: the fighting continues to intensify, particularly in Khartoum, Al Jazirah and North Darfur. Artillery fire from both sides as well as ongoing aerial bombardments of densely populated areas by the SAF and the horrific atrocities by the RSF underway in Al Jazirah are adding to the death toll. As we have repeatedly stressed, attacks on civilians must stop immediately. Protecting them is not a choice, it's an obligation. In view of the violations of international humanitarian law, the designation of two individuals last week underscores the relevance of the sanction measures taken by this Council.
As discussed at our last meeting two weeks ago, the priority must remain to press for an immediate cessation of hostilities as the most effective – and indeed the only - means of strengthening the security of the entire population. However, immediate needs across the country demand swift and decisive action, amidst of the hostilities.
I'd like to highlight three points in this regard:
First, international humanitarian law and human rights must be respected, as must the commitments made by the parties, in particular the Jeddah Declaration. The establishment by the parties of a compliance mechanism to monitor respect for these obligations would be a major step forward in ensuring the protection of civilians. We fully support this recommendation by the Secretary-General, an effort that the “Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan” (ALPS) group, of which Switzerland is a member, has also encouraged.
Second, in the same light, we urgently need to improve the humanitarian situation. The scale of the needs is monumental. Thousands of people continue to starve or to be forced to flee, often on foot and at great risk to their lives. Humanitarian organizations are overburdened and urgently need additional financial resources. We again call on all parties to guarantee rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained access across borders and front lines. We call on the authorities to keep the Adré crossing open beyond November 15, and to facilitate all administrative formalities.
Third, we need to focus on prevention in areas not directly affected by the fighting. This is all the more urgent with the onset of the dry season. Civilians in these areas are suffering from the wider effects of the conflict, including food insecurity, a massive influx of displaced people, cuts in telecommunications and increased pressure on already limited resources. As we heard from Ms Eltijani of the Youth Citizens Observers Network at the last meeting under our presidency, local organizations and networks like hers must be at the heart of strengthening resilience, preventing conflict and protecting civilians.
Mr. President,
In parallel, we must intensify our diplomatic efforts, including facilitating an inclusive political process. In this context, we reiterate our strong support for the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy to complement and coordinate these efforts and to work with the parties to strengthen the protection of civilians. We remain at his disposal for any support.
As members of this Council, it is our responsibility to act without delay. We therefore support the efforts to adopt a resolution on the protection of civilians, and are engaging constructively to ensuring swift and decisive action.
I thank you.