Taqaddum Warns of ‘Catastrophic’ Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

Internally displaced Muslim devotees wait to break their fast at a courtyard during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Gedaref on March 13, 2024. (AFP)
Internally displaced Muslim devotees wait to break their fast at a courtyard during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Gedaref on March 13, 2024. (AFP)
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Taqaddum Warns of ‘Catastrophic’ Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

Internally displaced Muslim devotees wait to break their fast at a courtyard during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Gedaref on March 13, 2024. (AFP)
Internally displaced Muslim devotees wait to break their fast at a courtyard during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Gedaref on March 13, 2024. (AFP)

The Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum) appealed for the international community to urgently intervene to aid the people caught in the fighting between the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

It called on it to agree on routes to deliver humanitarian aid to all affected regions in the country.

Headed by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, Taqaddum met overnight on Saturday to discuss the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the ongoing war that erupted on April 15.

It also addressed the weak international response to the humanitarian crisis.

Hamdok underscored the importance of humanitarian assistance and the impact of the war on Sudanese people inside the country and abroad.

Taqaddum called on the warring parties to guarantee the delivery of aid. The gatherers agreed to form a platform to coordinate the humanitarian response, attract foreign support and draw the world's attention to the catastrophe in Sudan.

Taqaddum is expected to issue a "joint appeal" that sets the operational steps to confront the humanitarian crisis and unite international efforts to support the Sudanese people during the crisis.

Taqaddum member Khaled Omar Youssef described the humanitarian situation in Sudan as "catastrophic", warning that famine is imminent if the war continues.

The meeting stressed the importance of the formation of a broad team that would coordinate efforts, urge the international community to provide humanitarian aid and remove the obstacles that are hindering relief efforts.

He warned that the war has "divided the Sudanese people in an unprecedented way".

Millions of people are paying the price, but the humanitarian crisis and its impact must not be sources of division and differences, he declared.

International and regional efforts on Sudan are focusing on addressing the humanitarian file and reaching a ceasefire between the army and RSF.

The army had previously approved the delivery of aid, but limited the routes for their delivery through airports, marine ports and land borders in regions held under its control.

Meanwhile, the RSF, which holds four major states in Darfur and Al-Jazirah, has demanded the delivery of aid to regions under its control through an agreement between relevant parties and international organizations.

The army has been accused of obstructing the delivery of aid to hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in conflict zones in Darfur and the capital Khartoum.

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned last week that almost 18 million people in Sudan are facing acute food insecurity - the highest number ever recorded during a harvest season.



Lebanese Red Cross Will Try Again to Remove Bodies from Israeli Strike Site

A picture taken from the area of Marjeyoun in southern Lebanon shows explosions over buildings in the town of Khiam, during Israeli bombardment on October 31, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)
A picture taken from the area of Marjeyoun in southern Lebanon shows explosions over buildings in the town of Khiam, during Israeli bombardment on October 31, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)
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Lebanese Red Cross Will Try Again to Remove Bodies from Israeli Strike Site

A picture taken from the area of Marjeyoun in southern Lebanon shows explosions over buildings in the town of Khiam, during Israeli bombardment on October 31, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)
A picture taken from the area of Marjeyoun in southern Lebanon shows explosions over buildings in the town of Khiam, during Israeli bombardment on October 31, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)

The Lebanese Red Cross will send another convoy Tuesday to Wata al-Khiam in southern Lebanon to search for and remove the bodies of 15 people killed in an Israeli airstrike, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said.

Paramedics accessed the site of the strike two days prior and removed five other bodies, but needed to return with larger vehicles to remove the rubble.

The NNA said the deployment is in coordination with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, which is the usual procedure.

The Red Cross did not immediately comment on the news, but expressed concern in recent weeks over several instances where Israel has struck in or close to areas where they have deployed paramedics to search for wounded people and casualties.

The Israeli military said it issued warnings to the residents there in late October to evacuate ahead of strikes on Hezbollah militant targets, and told ambulances to avoid the area.