Hundreds of people, most of them civilians, have been killed in the fighting in Sudan.
In Sudan, the country’s armed forces and paramilitary RSF forces have agreed on a week-long cease-fire, the United States and Saudi Arabia say in their joint statement.
The ceasefire is scheduled to begin on Monday evening at 22:45 Finnish time. The parties have negotiated a ceasefire in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
– According to the agreement, the parties agree to facilitate the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid, to restore essential services and to withdraw troops from hospitals and essential public institutions, the statement published by the US State Department on its website says.
– The parties also agree to facilitate the safe passage of humanitarian actors and goods.
The warring parties also agreed not to seek a military advantage in the fighting before the ceasefire begins. In addition, the parties agreed that the ceasefire can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties.
During the fighting that started in mid-April, ceasefires have been agreed upon several times before, but the fighting has often continued despite them.
– Unlike previous ceasefires, both sides signed the agreement negotiated in Jeddah and it is supported by a ceasefire monitoring mechanism that has not only the US and Saudi Arabia but also international support, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement published by the country’s official press service.
According to Saudi Arabia, future negotiations will focus on additional measures to improve civilian safety and humanitarian conditions.
Hundreds of people have died in the fighting in Sudan, most of whom have been civilians. In addition, more than a million people have had to flee their homes.
The UN has warned of a rapidly worsening humanitarian situation in Africa’s third largest country.
On Friday, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said it had provided $22 million in aid to help those fleeing violence in Sudan. The funds are to be directed to Sudan’s neighboring countries Chad, the Central African Republic, Egypt and South Sudan, which have received people who have fled Sudan. The United States has pledged $103 million to Sudan and its neighboring countries to help refugees.