The UN evacuates its foreign personnel from Sudan, although it keeps its main person in charge

The organization “is not leaving Sudan”, stresses Guterres, who has reaffirmed his commitment to the population

24 (EUROPA PRESS)

A convoy with foreign workers from the United Nations has arrived on Monday in the Sudanese city of Port Sudan, with a view to their evacuation from the African country, although the organization has decided to keep its main representative, Volker Perthes, while continuing to advocate for a cessation of the fighting between the Army and the Rapid Response Forces (RSF).

Foreign personnel will continue to work but will do so from countries in the area “to reduce risks.” Some 700 people have arrived by road in Port Sudan, in a convoy that the United States Government has confirmed was following by air with unmanned aerial vehicles, to avoid possible incidents.

This transfer is in addition to that of 43 UN workers and 29 from various NGOs to Chad, a country bordering the Sudanese region of Darfur, the organization reported in a statement.

Perthes will continue in Sudan “working to achieve a resolution of the crisis”, while the UN has promised to take “the necessary measures” to protect local staff and their families. In total, the United Nations has 4,149 workers in the African country, of which 3,272 are local.

“Our presence on the ground has been adjusted by the security situation, but I guarantee that there are no plans or ideas for the UN to leave Sudan,” insisted the special envoy, ready to support Sudanese citizens “in all ways possible ways”. “We will do everything we can to save lives while protecting the safety of our staff,” he added.

GETTING SUDAN ‘OFF THE EDGE OF THE ABYSS’

The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has also reaffirmed that, despite the “temporary” relocation of staff, the organization “is not leaving Sudan.” “Our commitment is to the Sudanese people, to support their wishes for a secure and peaceful future. We are with them at this terrible moment,” he added at the start of a session at the Security Council in New York.

Guterres has called for an end to the violence and has denounced the “indiscriminate” attacks on civilian areas. “I urge the parties to end combat operations in densely populated areas and allow humanitarian aid operations unimpeded,” he added.

The head of the UN, who is in “constant contact” with the parties, has asked both to “return to the negotiating table.” He hopes that other countries will also collaborate in these efforts, to “restore order and return to the path of democratic transition”, in such a way that Sudan can be “removed from the brink of the abyss”.