Parties to the conflict discuss aid access plans and safe corridors
Sudanese army and Rapid Support resume Jeddah talks today
Displaced people from Sudan enter the Egyptian border through the land port of Arqin. AFP
A senior Saudi diplomat said that representatives of the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces will resume talks today on how to implement plans to deliver humanitarian aid and withdraw troops from civilian areas, and Reuters quoted the diplomatic source as saying that the two sides will remain in the Saudi city of Jeddah to start the next phase of negotiations after agreeing on a plan to protect civilians.
The source explained that the Kingdom invited the head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, to attend the Arab League summit, scheduled to be held in Jeddah on May 19, noting that Al-Burhan was invited as the head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, which was overseeing the transition to civilian rule before the outbreak of the conflict.
The Saudi diplomat added: "We have not yet received the names of the delegations, but we expect the presence of those who represent Sudan at the summit."
On Thursday, the two sides of the conflict agreed on a "declaration of principles" to protect civilians and allow humanitarian access, but the fighting has not subsided, with clashes and strikes taking place across Khartoum and neighboring areas.
In talks to resume in Jeddah, the two sides are due to begin discussing mechanisms to implement the agreement on Thursday, including aid access plans, safe corridors and the removal of troops from civilian areas. The Saudi diplomat said: "The nature of the conflict affects the dialogue, yet I find a very good spirit on both sides."
UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the signing by the parties to the conflict in Sudan of a commitment to protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid in Sudan.
"The Secretary-General welcomes the signing by the parties to the conflict in Sudan of a declaration of commitment to protect civilians and ensure the safe passage of humanitarian aid in the country," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, adding: "While humanitarian workers, especially local partners, have continued to deliver aid in extremely difficult circumstances, the Secretary-General hopes that this declaration will ensure that the scale of the relief operation can be rapidly and safely scaled up to meet the needs of millions of people in Sudan."
The spokesman added that the Secretary-General of the United Nations renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire and the expansion of discussions to achieve a permanent cessation of violence, noting that the United Nations will spare no effort in assisting in the implementation of the declaration and will continue to deliver humanitarian assistance, both in the presence of a ceasefire and in the absence of it.
The conflict, which erupted suddenly about a month ago, has killed hundreds, displaced more than 200,700 to neighboring countries, displaced <>,<> internally and created the risk of external forces interfering and destabilizing the region.
Khartoum witnessed air strikes, street fighting and explosions yesterday, while millions of residents are still waiting for the warring sides to implement their commitment to evacuate civilians from combat zones and provide safe corridors for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Outside the Sudanese capital, the Darfur region, which borders Chad, and has already witnessed a fierce war that killed 300,2 people and displaced 5.450 million people at the beginning of this century, is witnessing violent clashes, which, according to the United Nations, have killed <> people so far.
The Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority announced in a statement yesterday that the country's airspace will remain closed to air traffic until May 31, with the exception of humanitarian aid flights and evacuation flights, while thousands of people cross the border daily mainly towards Egypt, and tens of thousands more have arrived in Chad, South Sudan and Ethiopia.