UAE joins US, Saudi Arabia in demanding action to protect civilians in Sudan

The UAE has joined a host of countries, including the US, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, in expressing shock over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan as the civil conflict rages into its third year.

In a joint statement by the ALPS (Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan) group that includes the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, US, Switzerland, African Union, and UN said they were "appalled by the continuous deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Sudan, including the growing number of people in situation of severe malnutrition and famine, and by the wide range of access impediments that are delaying or blocking the response in key areas".

The Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been fighting a war since April 2023 that has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced 14 million, according to the UN. Around 25 million people continue to face dire hunger and have been cut off from aid. 

The ALPS coalition called on the warring parties to maintain supply routes open to humanitarian convoys and personnel, ensure the safe passage of civilians to assistance - including the longer-term extension of the Adre crossing. "Civilians continue to pay the highest price for this war," the statement declared. 

The group also called for telecommunication access to be restored across the country, notably in areas of acute humanitarian needs, particularly in Darfur and the Kordofan regions.

The statement urgently reiterated the need for international humanitarian law to be respected, and facilitate unimpeded assistance to those in need.

"The ALPS group urgently reiterates that international humanitarian law must be fully respected. This includes the obligations to protect civilians, including humanitarian personnel, their premises and assets, as well as to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to all those in need."