The threat of famine following the spread of conflict in Sudan

European Parliament resolution of 18 January 2024 on the threat of famine following the spread of the conflict in Sudan (2024/2505(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to its previous resolutions on Sudan,

–having regard to the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan,

–having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

–having regard to Rules 144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.whereas the violent conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces continues to be the main driver of life-threatening and acute food insecurity in Sudan, affecting 18 million people, 5 million of whom are at emergency levels of hunger;

B.whereas over 7,5 million people have been forcibly displaced in Sudan and beyond, leading to severe suffering, in particular among women and children; whereas Sudan now has the largest number of displaced people in the world;

C.whereas around 12 000 people have been killed in the conflict; whereas ethnically motivated attacks, against the Masalit community in particular, have increased in Darfur and throughout the country, seriously increasing the risk of ethnic cleansing; whereas sexual violence has been systematically used;

D.whereas the conflict has dramatically exacerbated shortages of basic supplies and fuel in areas with constrained humanitarian access; whereas the conflict has expanded to grain-producing areas; whereas the country has the highest rate of child malnutrition globally;

E.whereas assaults on humanitarian workers and infrastructure have led organisations to suspend operations, thus disrupting food security;

F.whereas the Commission mobilised over EUR 128 million for its humanitarian response in Sudan in 2023;

1.Strongly condemns the ongoing violence between the rival armed factions in Sudan, the human rights violations and the resulting food insecurity; deplores the repeated attacks against civilians and reminds all factions of their obligations under international law;

2.Calls on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities, to facilitate safe, timely and unhindered humanitarian access, including by fulfilling their Jeddah commitments, and to seek a negotiated peaceful resolution to the conflict; fully supports all regional and international efforts in this regard; calls on the external parties to the conflict to refrain from interferences that contribute to the conflict and instability;

3.Underlines the need to ensure equitable access to humanitarian relief for civilians who are subject to ongoing fighting, shortages of food, water and fuel, limited communications and electricity, and very high prices for essential items;

4.Calls for the EU and its Member States to increase emergency funding for the humanitarian response throughout Sudan and its neighbouring countries; underlines the need for specific support for survivors of sexual violence, including protection, care, treatment and support mechanisms;

5.Calls for the EU to sanction those responsible for human rights violations under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime; calls on the UN Security Council to sanction violations of the UN arms embargo on Darfur and to expand this embargo throughout the country;

6.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Sudanese authorities, the African Union, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Pan-African Parliament.