Strasbourg 18.01.2024 MEPs (pictured) strongly condemn the continuing violence between rival armed factions in Sudan, alongside human rights violations and food insecurity. They call on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and facilitate safe and timely humanitarian access for civilians suffering shortages of food, water and fuel and very high prices for essential items. The MEPs call for peace occurred in the context of the increasing threat of famine following the spread of conflict in Sudan.

MEPs wish the UN Security Council to sanction violations of the UN arms embargo on Darfur, and to expand the embargo to the whole of the country.

The EU and member states should increase emergency funding for the humanitarian response, MEPs add, underlining the need for specific support for survivors of sexual violence, and make use of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (EUGHRSR) mechanism against those responsible for human rights violations.

The text was adopted by a show of hands.

Over the past few months, the population of Khartoum State in Sudan has become increasingly cut-off from healthcare. Very few medical facilities remain functional, depriving three million inhabitants of lifesaving medical services. For the first time in more than 90 days, a limited number of travel permits have been granted for humanitarian staff to access RSF-controlled areas. Prior to this, no travel permits had been granted for travel to Khartoum since October 1. Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is calling for the Sudanese authorities to ensure these restrictions are not reinstated, in order to avert further loss of life.

“Despite the past exodus from Khartoum due to ongoing fighting, there are still a huge number of people who either could not afford to flee, or were unable to do so due to vulnerabilities or insecurity, now struggling to access critical treatment,” Jean-Guy Vataux, MSF Head of Mission in Sudan, explains.

In Khartoum, only a handful of hospitals are currently operational, and the price of essential medicines continues to soar. MSF teams in the Turkish Hospital receive over 100 patients a day, mostly children and pregnant women. Many arrive in a critical state at advanced stages of illness having taken the calculated risk of travelling to the hospital, sometimes for miles on foot and across frontlines, since there is no ambulance service and there are very few transport options available.

Anna Van Densky from Strasbourg