In recent days, the Emergency Relief Coordinator has toured various areas of the conflict-ridden country, engaging with leaders, frontline responders, and crisis survivors.
“We need more UN troops on the ground,” Mr. Fletcher stated. “The UN is a ship that was not built to stay in port, and this visit is part of a larger initiative to ensure we are mobilized closer to those we serve.”
Progress of Negotiations
Mr. Fletcher described his meeting with General Burhan, head of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), as “useful,” with discussions centered on achieving “unlimited” and “unhindered” humanitarian access.
He also held a “difficult” discussion with Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia representatives, asserting that the UN expects civilian protection and demands accountability and safe crossings for civilians and humanitarian convoys.
“We have, I think, a fairly strong agreement from the authorities [of the military government] in Port Sudan and the RSF on full access and safe passage for our convoys to enter and civilians to exit,” Mr. Fletcher said. “Now let’s see what happens next.”
“Crime Scene” in El Fasher
The UN has also advanced efforts to send teams to El Fasher, Darfur, on its terms, Fletcher noted.
“We are not going to be exploited,” he stressed. “This is a potential crime scene, and we need to ensure we have the right people and that the aid is truly neutral and impartial.”
El Fasher was seized by the RSF last month after more than 500 days of siege, causing the displacement of some 90,000 people since late October.
Regarding the death toll in El Fasher, Mr. Fletcher said there is no credible count of the deaths so far.
There are hundreds of thousands of people in Tawila, but “a lot of people are clearly not leaving El Fasher,” he said.
“One of the things we want to do when we go there is find out why and examine the conditions they’re being held in there.”
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