Yvette Cooper has emphasized the lack of global awareness regarding the urgent humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan, characterized by reports of widespread atrocities including mass killings, starvation, and the use of rape as a tool of warfare.
The Foreign Secretary strongly condemned the distressing events occurring in the Darfur region following the takeover of el-Fasher city by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Approximately 260,000 individuals, half of whom are children, are currently trapped in dire conditions resembling famine, devoid of essential aid and exposed to lethal violence, as outlined by the Foreign Office.
During a summit held in Bahrain, Ms. Cooper, alongside foreign ministers from Germany and Jordan, called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the ongoing civil conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese military since 2023.
In a post-summit interview with the Sunday Mirror, Ms. Cooper stressed the necessity for world leaders to prioritize resolving the Sudanese crisis with the same vigor as other global conflicts like Gaza. She highlighted the severe humanitarian crisis affecting around 8 million individuals, equivalent to the population of London, and lamented the lack of urgency in addressing the situation.
Amidst the ongoing atrocities in el-Fasher, where executions have occurred in a maternity hospital and sexual violence is rampant, with 130,000 children still trapped in the city, Ms. Cooper urged for a renewed focus on securing a ceasefire, delivering humanitarian aid, and safeguarding civilians, particularly women and girls, from egregious violence.
Ms. Cooper announced a commitment of £5 million in emergency aid from the UK, including provisions for food and medical supplies, with a specific allocation of £2 million to aid survivors of sexual violence.
Expressing concern over the regression in protecting women during conflicts since a UN resolution 25 years ago, Ms. Cooper called for renewed efforts to combat violence against women and girls, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and foreign policy in addressing this critical issue.
