Sudan Denies UN Claims of Burhan Agreeing to Meet Hemeti in Switzerland
A source from the Sudanese Presidency officially denied on Thursday the statements made by the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, regarding President of the Sovereignty Council, Abdelfattah Al-Burhan, agreeing to meet the Rapid Support Forces Commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti), in Switzerland to facilitate aid delivery to Sudanese affected populations.
The source informed Sudan’s Al Ahdat newspaper that Burhan had not received any communication from Griffiths on this matter, indicating that all matters concerning aid are overseen by General Ibrahim Jabir.
The United Nations announced on Wednesday that the conflicting parties in Sudan had agreed to hold a meeting, most likely in Switzerland, to discuss facilitating humanitarian aid delivery.
The UN’s Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, stated that he had engaged in talks with Burhan and Hemeti regarding convening a meeting between representatives of the warring factions in Sudan to discuss aid delivery.
Griffiths affirmed, during a press conference, that both parties had agreed to this and expressed their satisfaction with the step.
Since April 15th, fighting has been ongoing in Sudan between the army forces led by Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Hemeti, resulting in the deaths of thousands, with around 10,000 casualties in Darfur according to a report by UN-affiliated experts.
The United Nations has issued a plea to donor countries to contribute to aid Sudanese civilians suffering from the consequences of war, urging the international community not to forget Sudan.
The organization stated an urgent need to raise 4.1 billion dollars to meet the humanitarian needs of war-affected individuals, including displaced persons who have fled to neighboring countries.
UN estimates indicate that half of Sudan’s population, roughly 25 million people, require humanitarian assistance and protection. Furthermore, over 1.5 million individuals have fled the country due to war, seeking refuge in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.
