US, UN officials urge halt to RSF attack on Sudan’s Al-Jazirah, a hub for displaced

December 15, 2023 (WASHINGTON) – U.S. and United Nations officials expressed grave concern about the attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Al-Jazirah State, a strategic location for humanitarian operations, and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

Hundreds of RSF military vehicles crossed from eastern Khartoum on Friday morning, heading toward Wad Madani, the state capital, located 136 kilometres south of Khartoum.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield issued a strongly worded statement, declaring that she was “gravely concerned by reports of attacks by the Rapid Support Forces on Wad Madani in Sudan.”

Thomas-Greenfield emphasized that over 500,000 Sudanese had sought refuge in Wad Madani after fleeing Khartoum. She urged the RSF to refrain from attacks and for all parties to protect civilians at all costs. “Perpetrators of terror will be held accountable,” she declared.

On Friday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) announced a suspension of all humanitarian missions within and from Al Jazirah State until further notice.

U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths expressed deep dismay that the fighting continues to spread in Sudan.

Griffiths highlighted that the clashes outside Wad Medani, a critical humanitarian hub, pose a serious threat to tens of thousands of civilians already displaced by the conflict.

“Today marks eight months of war in Sudan. It’s time to end it,” he stated on Friday.

An estimated 5.9 million people reside in Al Jazirah State, Sudan’s breadbasket. According to OCHA, approximately 158,640 of the 500,000 displaced people have sought refuge in Wad Medani, Al Jazirah State.

Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed alarm over the RSF offensive on Al-Jazirah State.

“I strongly condemn the ongoing violence between the RSF and SAF and urge both sides to uphold their commitments made in Djibouti last week to implement a cease-fire and hold a political dialogue,” Coons declared in a statement released on Friday.

(ST)