Khartoum: Rhino – The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) condemned on Friday the use of the weapon of starvation by the Sudanese army against the people of Darfur and other regions in the country, by obstructing or preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid to them, declaring its solidarity with the victims of famine in the affected regions.
In a statement on Friday, the RSF held elements of the Islamic Movement fully responsible for using food as a weapon of war, noting that army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan confirmed in a public speech that he would not allow humanitarian aid to enter RSF-controlled areas.
The statement reads: “While our forces condemn the resort to the “weapon of cowards”, they call on the UN and the international community to intervene immediately to save millions of people who are threatened by the spectra of death by starvation, as a result of the army’s prevention of the entry of humanitarian aid through the “Adri” crossing, which was confirmed by the statement of the US Ambassador to the United Nations today.
He continued: “We call on the UN and its agencies to fulfil their moral duties and hasten to save millions of hungry people. We have already demanded the use of all border crossings in RSF-controlled areas to ensure the rapid flow of humanitarian aid to the needy, especially the Adri border crossing.”
The RSF reiterated its stated positions, as stated in its commander’s letter to the UN Secretary-General, on the need to adopt an urgent humanitarian emergency response program “Lifeline” in order to save the Sudanese, It reiterated its demand for the establishment of a joint supreme mechanism between it and the UN to follow up on measures and commitments related to humanitarian aid and protection of civilians, and to explore operational challenges and implementation gaps and work on fixing them.
She stressed the need to appoint a UN humanitarian coordinator in the areas under their control, with the aim of strengthening coordination and enhancing cooperation and communication, pointing out that they are fully prepared to engage in any negotiation that leads to the cessation of the war and the achievement of peace and stability in Sudan.
She added: “We hope that the tragedy of the IDPs in Zamzam camp will push the UN organization and its agencies to initiate effective and immediate solutions, and not to tolerate those who manipulate the fate of millions of our people in order to achieve political goals.”
