Madame President,
I would like to thank Under Secretary-General DiCarlo and OCHA Director of Operations Wosornu for their briefings. We would also like to thank Mr Chambas, High Representative of the African Union (AU) for Silencing the Guns.
A power struggle has led to a brutal conflict in Sudan that has raged unabated for a year. It has created a humanitarian catastrophe which also affects neighbouring countries and the broader region. The conflict is marked by sexual violence against women and girls and large-scale ethnic attacks. We witnessed a year of mass forced displacement, and now an unprecedented famine is looming.
With the intensification of violence in recent days on the outskirts of El-Fasher - the last humanitarian centre in Darfur and refuge for hundreds of thousands of displaced people - civilians are once again put in danger without any protection. Against this background, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, once again reminded us of the risks of genocide and related crimes.
Let me highlight three key messages:
First of all, we reiterate our urgent appeal to the SAF and RSF and to the other parties to silence the guns. Their struggle for power is a struggle against the civilian population and against their hope and determination to live in freedom and dignity. The belligerents have ignored the Security Council's call for a humanitarian truce for the month of Ramadan. In doing so, they have ignored a binding Security Council resolution. It is unacceptable that civilians continue to suffer the consequences of this conflict. Respect for international humanitarian law and human rights is an obligation, not a choice. A halt to the fighting remains essential to meet the enormous protection needs. We welcome the announcement that the Jeddah talks will resume in the coming weeks. We need all the diplomatic leverage we can muster to bring the parties back to the negotiating table, put an end to external actions likely to prolong the conflict, and uphold the arms embargo.
My second message concerns the humanitarian situation, which is already one of the worst in the world, and is deteriorating ever further. The international conference held in Paris this week raised more than 2 billion dollars. Switzerland welcomes this effort to refocus the international community's attention and make urgent commitments. It has pledged an additional 21 million dollars for 2024, which will also contribute to the Famine Prevention Response Plan – mentioned by Mrs Wosornu – launched last week.
But money alone is not enough. Humanitarian aid is being deliberately withheld and access denied, leaving millions of vulnerable people on the brink of starvation. The parties have an urgent responsibility to allow rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access across borders and frontlines, in accordance with resolution 2724. The protection of humanitarian personnel, including local organisations and volunteers, must also be ensured.
My final point addresses the search for a negotiated and lasting solution to this conflict. A concerted effort is needed for a credible and inclusive political process, as called for in yesterday's communiqué issued by the AU Peace and Security Council. In this context, we welcome the efforts of civilian actors to bring together diverse voices, representative of the whole population, to set common objectives for the future of the country. In order to strengthen joint action, we must also ensure that the diplomatic initiatives of regional and international players complement each other in the search for a peaceful solution. We fully support the Personal Envoy in his efforts to facilitate the achievement of this objective.
Madam President,
After a year of violence and devastation, it is high time to put an end to this war. We reiterate that, as members of this Council, we must assume our responsibilities to this end.
Thank you.