By Bida Elly David
Ongoing war crisis in Sudan has resulted in the worst displacement of civilians across the globe.
Norway’s Minister of International Development, Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide said in a statement.
The two diplomats expressed their dismay over the extreme human suffering in Sudan, saying that the country will take a long time to recover.
“We are appalled by the extreme human suffering. Thousands of civilians have been killed and maimed. More than one-fifth of Sudan’s population is forcibly displaced, making it the world’s largest displacement crisis,” the statement partly read.
The officials emphasized that an increasing number of people are dying from hunger, malnutrition, and related diseases.
They estimated that 18 million people are still facing acute food insecurity, and 5 million of them are on the brink of famine.
On their critical note, they called on urgent and significant measures by both parties to mitigate the increasing risk of famine and suffering.
“The parties must adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law, protect civilians, ensure full and unhindered humanitarian access, and fully respect international human rights law,” it emphasized.
They added that special attention needs to be given to the vulnerable and historically marginalized areas such as Darfur, the Blue Nile, and the Southern Kordofan regions (Nuba Mountains).
Monday, April 15, marks one year since the outbreak of war in Sudan, and Norway underlined that it was an unimaginable tragedy for the Sudanese people.
They highlighted that it would take a long time for the destruction caused by the Sudanese war to recover.
Furthermore, they underscored that the existence of the Sudanese state is in danger as the social fabric is still crumbling.
They demonstrated shock over reports of sexual abuse against women during the long-term tragedy.
“We are shocked by the reports on widespread conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and deeply concerned for women and children,” they stressed in the statement.
Norway condemns all violations and abuses in the strongest possible terms and encourages all parties to cooperate with the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan.
It added that those responsible must be held accountable, saying victims deserve justice.
“It will take years to recover and maybe generations to heal. We urge the warring parties to stop the fighting immediately and agree to a sustained ceasefire,” the officials echoed.
On a positive note, the diplomats stressed that there is still hope of recovery, although the situation in Sudan can be described as a living nightmare.
“There are signs of hope. We are immensely impressed with the efforts made by Sudanese civil society and grassroots organizations to mitigate the effects of the war,” it stated.
Norway appreciated civil society and humanitarian organizations for having exerted efforts towards helping the suffering citizens and further reiterated its commitment towards restoring permanent peace and amnesty in Sudan.
“We share the basic aspirations for freedom, peace, and justice, as expressed in the 2018–2019 Revolution, and we will reject the return of authoritarian rule. Our commitment is long-term. We believe a new and better Sudan can emerge from the horror of the current situation,” they added.
With much concern, the diplomats emphasized that there is no military solution to this conflict, saying the only way to achieve sustainable peace is through a representative and inclusive Sudanese solution.
A recent report from the UN reveals that both parties to the conflict have allegedly committed gross violations and abuses of international human rights law, as well as serious violations of international humanitarian law, some of which may amount to war crimes.