The EU must urgently act at one year of conflict in Sudan
One year on from the start of the conflict in Sudan on 15 April 2023, and as the Foreign Affairs Council meets on Sudan on 22 April 2024, Free Press Unlimited together with 10 other human rights and aid organisations, call on the European Union and its member states to take urgent, strategic and concrete steps to respond to the massive cost on civilians of the dramatic human rights and humanitarian crisis in the country and prevent further violations.
They do so in a letter to the High Representative of the EU and the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the EU member states. Read the full letter below.
Since fighting broke out in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), millions of civilians have had their homes destroyed. Sudan now has the highest rate of internal displacement in the world, with over 10.7 million people uprooted from their homes, including 9 million internally displaced, and over 20 million facing severe hunger, according to the UN.
Access to information obstructed
The crucial work of independent media to inform the population is hampered as journalists are targeted and forced to flee. At the same time, the regular use of internet blackouts not only prevents communication at a personal and communal level, but also interferes with the ability of local and international humanitarian organisations to adequately respond to the growing humanitarian needs.
As civilians across Sudan continue to bear the brunt of the fighting and warring parties continue to disregard the rules of international humanitarian law, we urge the EU and its member states to respond to this conflict with renewed urgency.
With regards to access to information, we urge all warring parties to restore communication services in all of Sudan, ending internet blackouts that violate Sudanese people’s right to information, hinder the delivery of humanitarian and emergency services, impact on the safety and protection of civilians and obstruct crucial monitoring and reporting on ongoing violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.
