The UN special envoy and head of the UN mission in Sudan on Tuesday evening, addressing the Security Council, condemned that the belligerents in the northeast African state “ignore the right of war” by attacking populated areas without regard for fate. civilian population.

“The two opposing sides are fighting against the law and the rules of war, attacking densely populated areas, with little regard for the civilian population, hospitals and even vehicles transporting the wounded and sick,” Volker Perthes emphasized.

A 72-hour ceasefire agreement announced by the United States on Monday between the forces of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the de facto leader of the country since the October 2021 military coup, and the former deputy commander of the military junta, General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, nicknamed “Hameti”, the commander paramilitary operational support forces (RSF), only partially seen in Khartoum.

But in the capital, fighting around “strategic sites” not only “continued” but in some cases “intensified,” said Mr. Perthes, speaking from Port Sudan (east), where the UN hastily transferred some of its personnel from mission.

“At present, there is no clear indication that either (general) is ready to really negotiate, which suggests that both believe that military superiority over the other side remains possible,” the German diplomat continued.

Sudan will be lost

It’s a “miscalculation,” added the special envoy, who will take over in 2021. “Even if one side wins, Sudan will lose,” he insisted.

The war that broke out in Sudan on April 15 is “causing a humanitarian catastrophe” and “citizens are paying the price,” Mr. Perthes said.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, describing ten “heartbreaking” days of “violence and chaos”, reiterated his concern about the generalization and spread of armed conflict.

“All seven countries neighboring Sudan have been involved in conflicts or mass political unrest over the past decade,” he recalled.

“The conflict over power in Sudan threatens not only the future of the country. It ignites a spark that could explode beyond its borders, causing great suffering for years to come and setting back development for decades,” Mr. Guterres warned.

With a population of 46 million and rich in gold and oil, the country remains one of the poorest in the world.

At least 460 people have died and more than 4,100 have been injured since the outbreak of hostilities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The actual death toll is believed to be much higher.

Air raids and shelling continued, especially in the cities of Bahri and Omdurman.

As supplies of food and water run low, there are many reports of home invasions, robberies and theft, especially of vehicles.

“We have also received very disturbing information about sexual harassment,” Volker Perthes said.

At the same time, foreign countries continue to hastily expel their citizens and diplomats.

Health services were already under enormous pressure, and as if that weren’t enough, a Red Cross medical depot was looted, Farid Aiwar, spokesman for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Sudan, said. This means that restocking medical facilities, which are already facing severe shortages, is becoming even more difficult.

Operations for the Greeks continue

At the same time, ten more people, Greeks and their families, were released from Sudan and arrived last night on German aircraft flights to Amman, Jordan, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias expressed sincere gratitude to his German counterpart, Analena Berbock, for the assistance her country is providing in efforts to free Greeks and their families from Sudan.

In total, 53 people (Greeks and their relatives) have been released in recent days, operations continue. An estimated 80 expatriates remain stranded.

Source: Reuters, APE-MPE.