Last week, US intelligence warned of a protracted conflict in Sudan, which could destabilize the region and create an ideal environment for terrorist and criminal networks. A concern shared by the American special envoy on Sudan, Tom Perriello, visiting the region from March 11 to 23.
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Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates… The new American special envoy for Sudan continues his marathon tour to mobilize stakeholders in the region.
“ Now is the time to pay more attention to Sudan », indicated Tom Perriello, Saturday March 16, in Kenya, to an international media, ensuring that his recent appointment as well as that of a UN special envoy were proof of a desire to resolve this crisis.
“ Humanitarian aid is far from enough », he admitted while the various UN agencies are alarmed by the growing signs of a possible famine.
Asked about accusations of arms sales from the United Arab Emirates to one of the two belligerents – General Hemetti’s rapid support forces – Tom Perriello assured that Washington was putting pressure on those who fuel the conflict.
“ The United States is concerned about the rise of Islamists in the ranks of the Sudanese army “, he admitted, before adding that if Sudan were to become a failed state, this would risk leading to a return of extremists to the region and creating a problem for the next ten to twenty years.
“ Everyone realizes that neither of the two belligerents engaged in this war can win. “, he indicated. “ We must quickly end the conflict, in the coming weeks, before crossing a point of no return “, specified Tom Perriello.
Furthermore, without urgent humanitarian aid and access to basic products, nearly 5 million people could fall into a “ catastrophic food insecurity » because they are already in a situation of humanitarian emergency, indicated the head of the UN humanitarian operations office Martin Griffiths, in a note sent to the Security Council. Darfur has more than 154 refugee camps suffering from this situation. Dozens of deaths are recorded in these camps every day due to lack of food.
In Darfur, everyone is affected by the humanitarian crisis. All refugee camps have entered the cycle of famine. Since the start of the war, more than eleven months ago, people have not received the food rations allocated to them by the World Food Program. Those who farmed were unable to do so due to the security situation. The same goes for casual workers in cities.
Adam Regal, spokesperson for the general coordination for refugees and displaced people from Darfur
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