UN Chief Urges End to ‘Dramatic Suffering’ of Sudanese People Ahead of Ramadan

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Friday urged an end to the “dramatic suffering” experienced by the people of Sudan as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches in two weeks, Anadolu Agency reported.

During a high-level humanitarian conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Guterres emphasized the need to protect civilians and humanitarian workers, stating, “Rapid, safe, unhindered, and sustained humanitarian access must be facilitated in all areas of need.” He also condemned the ongoing flow of external support and weapons, which he said contributes to significant civilian destruction and bloodshed.

Highlighting the significance of Ramadan, Guterres urged participants to leverage their influence for peace, compassion, and solidarity during this sacred time. He announced that the UN, along with national and international partners, will launch the 2025 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan and the 2025 Sudan Refugee Response Plan.

These initiatives aim to raise $6 billion to assist nearly 21 million people within Sudan and approximately 5 million others, primarily refugees in neighboring countries. Guterres described the situation as an unprecedented humanitarian crisis on the African continent, stressing, “We must do more – and do more now – to help the people of Sudan out of this nightmare.”