Sudan Events – Follow-ups
Deputy Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, Malik Agar, reaffirmed the Sudanese government’s commitment to facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need and easing the work of relief teams and humanitarian workers. In a meeting at his office in Port Sudan on Tuesday with a UNICEF delegation led by Edward Shivon, UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director, and Raouf Mazou, UNHCR’s Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, Agar reviewed the efforts made by the government, including opening various crossing points and Sudanese local airports to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid and ease the work of teams and organizations. He emphasized the importance of providing all services to citizens affected by the war. For his part, Edward Shivon noted that the meeting discussed the situation in Sudan and ways to support the Sudanese people during the current circumstances, stressing the need to address urgent humanitarian needs from the perspective of UNICEF and the UNHCR. He confirmed their commitment to continuing support and coordination with the Sudanese government to ensure access to those in need, particularly in Zalingei and Kadugli, highlighting the importance of facilitating cross-border aid delivery by land and air. He also praised the government’s role in opening various airports, which helped reach many people facing severe food insecurity, noting that around 4 million children are at risk of acute malnutrition and daily infections. Raouf Mazou added that the meeting discussed the situation of internal displacement, with over 10 million displaced people requiring protection and assistance. He also mentioned that the situation of Sudanese people abroad, who number around one million in neighboring countries, was also addressed, with the delegation emphasizing the need for international resources and the importance of overcoming challenges and ensuring the continuation of support.
