UN is not leaving Sudan, says Guterres

WASHINGTON

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday said that the UN will continue to operate in Sudan despite an ongoing fighting between rival groups since mid-April.

"Let me be clear: the United Nations is not leaving Sudan," Guterres told a UN Security Council meeting on multilateralism. "Our commitment is to the Sudanese people, in support of their wishes for a peaceful and secure future. We stand with them at this terrible time".

Noting that the situation continues to worsen in Sudan, where at least 420 people were killed and more than 3,700 injured since the fighting erupted on April 15, Guterres said the "violence must stop."

"It risks a catastrophic conflagration within Sudan that could engulf the whole region and beyond," he added.

The UN chief "strongly" condemned the "indiscriminate" bombardment of civilian areas, including healthcare facilities, calling on "the parties to stop combat operations in densely populated areas and to allow unhindered humanitarian aid operations."

"Civilians must be able to access food, water and other essential supplies, and evacuate from combat zones," he said, adding that he is in contact with the parties of the conflict and called on them to "de-escalate tensions and to return to the negotiating table."

Many countries have evacuated their diplomatic staff and nationals from Sudan as heavy fighting between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has entered its second week despite a temporary truce for the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday.

The conflict broke out in the capital Khartoum and other cities on April 15 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, which the military had declared a rebel group.