Geneva: Europe and the Arabs
The Deputy Spokesperson for the United Nations said that the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, is leading a UN delegation participating as an observer in the talks on Sudan hosted by the United States, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland in Geneva. According to the UN daily news bulletin, a copy of which we received this morning.
In response to journalists' questions at the daily press conference, UN spokesman Farhan Haq stated that the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan expresses his hope that the US-Saudi-Swiss initiative will lead to tangible progress towards an immediate ceasefire and improved humanitarian access.
The UN delegation also includes representation from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Haq said that the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General urges the parties to truly commit to effective dialogue.
He stressed that the participation of the United Nations as an observer is part of the broader coordinating role to enhance harmonious international mediation to promote peacemaking in Sudan.
The UN deputy spokesman added that this is in line with Lamamra’s efforts to enhance humanitarian assistance and protect civilians across Sudan, including through the indirect talks he held with the parties in Geneva in July.

“We want to see the participation of all parties so that the talks are as successful as possible,” Haq said.

In the same context, the head of the International Organization for Migration’s mission in Sudan, Mohamed Refaat, warned that the humanitarian situation in the country has reached a breaking point, with the number of displaced people and refugees increasing at an unprecedented rate, noting that the number of internally displaced people has exceeded 10.7 million people, in addition to 2.3 million refugees outside the country.

Refaat added in an interview with UN News that the recent floods have exacerbated the crisis, as more than 73,000 people have been affected, dozens have been killed, and entire cities have been isolated due to road closures. He stressed that the International Organization for Migration is making strenuous efforts to help those affected, but it faces major challenges in reaching some areas and a lack of resources. Rafat pointed out that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating day after day, and that the Sudanese people are suffering from high food prices and lack of basic services, stressing that peace is the only solution to end this crisis, and called on the international community to intensify its support for Sudan. The UN official touched on the situation of Sudanese children, who he said constitute 50% of the displaced in the country, and are suffering from difficult conditions. He told the story of a young child who was forced to fish to feed his younger brother, and told him that he wished his death would be more merciful than his life.