WFP temporarily suspends operations in Sudan, following the death of three employees

After the death of three of its employees this Saturday, the World Food Program (PMA) temporarily halted all its operations in Sudan today, due to recent clashes between Sudanese army forces and Rapid Support Forces.

In a statement, the executive director of the UN agency, Cindy McCain, explained that the workers were carrying out rescue tasks in the town of Kabkabiya, in the state of North Darfur.

“Any loss of life in the provision of humanitarian services is unacceptable and I demand immediate action to ensure the safety of those who remain. Aid workers are neutral and should never be targeted. The threats to our teams make it impossible to operate safely and effectively in the country and carry out the critical work of WFP”, McCain justified.

In another incident that occurred this Saturday, a United Nations Humanitarian Air Service plane, managed by WFP, was extensively damaged at Khartoum International Airport during an exchange of fire, seriously affecting the transfer of humanitarian workers and help within the country.

After these two serious events, McCain explained that all operations in Sudan have been suspended, pending a review of the evolution of the security situation.

Despite maintaining WFP’s commitment to the Sudanese people, the agency’s executive director stressed that “we cannot carry out our work to save lives if the safety of our teams and partners is not guaranteed.”

“All parties must reach an agreement that guarantees the safety of aid workers on the ground and allows for the continued delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid to the people of Sudan. They remain our top priority,” he said.

Guterres: Those responsible must be brought to justice

Subsequently, the General secretary The UN forcefully condemned the deaths and injuries of civilians in Sudan, including the deaths of the three members of the World Food Program, and indicated that those responsible for these acts must be brought to justice as soon as possible.

António Guterres also reported shelling and looting of UN facilities and other humanitarian organizations in various parts of Darfur.

The UN head reminded the parties of the need to respect international law, which includes guaranteeing the safety of all United Nations and associated personnel, their premises and property, and reiterated his call for the immediate cessation of the fighting and the resumption of dialogue.

Looting of UN premises must end

For his part, the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Sudan and Head of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission (UNITAMS), Volker Perthes, expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and once again condemned the attacks.

Volker Perthes expressed his concern about the projectiles that hit the UN facilities in the African nation and the looting in those facilities. The special representative of the Secretary General for Sudan indicated that these violent acts “must stop” since they hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid.

“The safety of staff and contractors is paramount, and when incidents like this occur, those who suffer the most are the women, men and children who desperately need help,” he recalled.

A few hours later, Perthes announced in a statement that both sides had accepted his proposal to commit to a temporary pause in hostilities for humanitarian reasons between 4 and 7 p.m. this Sunday.

The Security Council calls for calm

In a statement to the press, members of the Security Council of the UN called for the cessation of hostilities, to restore calm and to return to dialogue to resolve the current crisis in Sudan.

They also stressed the importance of maintaining humanitarian access, guaranteeing the safety of UN personnel and reaffirmed their “firm commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Sudan.”