The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and international partners have issued a joint ministerial statement expressing grave concern over escalating violence against civilians and humanitarian operations in Sudan. Heavy fighting across the Kordofan and Darfur states has intensified, with drone and aerial attacks reportedly striking displaced communities, health facilities, food convoys and areas near humanitarian compounds. The statement highlights that these attacks have caused significant civilian casualties and severely disrupted humanitarian access and supply chains.
Recent incidents include drone and rocket strikes targeting trucks and warehouses operated by the World Food Programme, as well as damage to medical facilities. These attacks have resulted in deaths and serious injuries among civilians and humanitarian personnel and destroyed essential relief supplies. The ministers underscored that intentional attacks against humanitarian workers or the obstruction of aid deliveries violate international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes.
Darfur and Kordofan remain at the centre of what has been described as the world’s largest humanitarian and protection crisis. Reports indicate widespread sexual and gender-based violence, confirmed famine conditions and escalating displacement, with up to 100,000 people forced to flee in recent months in the Kordofan region alone. Citing warnings from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the statement noted the risk of further abuses similar to those previously documented in El Fasher. The signatories called on the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, along with allied militias, to immediately cease hostilities.
The joint declaration condemns all serious violations of international humanitarian law and stresses that those responsible for potential war crimes or crimes against humanity must be held accountable through prompt and impartial investigations. It reiterates that all parties are obligated to allow rapid, safe and unimpeded access to food, medicine and essential supplies, and to ensure the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel at all times, particularly women and girls who remain at heightened risk of violence.
Signed by foreign ministers and senior representatives from Europe, Oceania and North America, the statement reflects broad international solidarity with the people of Sudan and with humanitarian organisations working under extremely challenging conditions to provide life-saving assistance.
