My Lords, I am grateful to the Government for granting this debate at a very opportune time, with Lady Sandwich in the gallery and gallery and a detailed report ‘Rivers of Blood’ being delivered this morning to the APPG (dedicated to the late Lord Sandwich). I thank the Minister for her commitment to addressing the urgent and long-term situation in Sudan, a country I love, where I have friends, and which I have visited a number of times – most recently in June 2024. My concerns and engagement will continue after I retire from this House this afternoon, albeit in a different way.
The humanitarian situation in Sudan is so dire that the word ‘urgent’ does not do justice to the need for action. I won’t repeat here the many reports from agencies engaged on the ground in Sudan, but they make for harrowing hearing and reading. A number have provided briefings in Parliament in the last few days. We had planned for the Archbishop of Sudan to be here today, but he has had to return to Port Sudan a couple of days ago. The lack of attention to Sudan in western media is bewildering in many respects, but it seems that increasing attention is now being paid.
The suffering in Sudan is almost unbearable – the worst humanitarian catastrophe on the planet. And it is not new – nor simply a phenomenon of only the last three years. Whatever the causes of and motivations behind the current conflict, it is civilians, women, children, young men and vulnerable ethnic groups that are being targeted and abused in the most inhumane ways. A few numbers:
- It is estimated that up to 150,000 have died, 13 million have been displaced (9 million internally and 4 million in exile)
- 25-30 million people are hungry, malnourished or severely malnourished
- Save the Children estimate that 16 million children are in need of aid and that in 2024 more than 2,000 cases of children being killed, maimed, abducted, raped and violated
- Sexual violence against children, women and young men is out of control, fuelled by an evident assumption of impunity and unaccountability by perpetrators; shame is being weaponised in the most vicious and immoral way
- Access to aid is frequently blocked and funding is inadequate to the need
- In so-called illegal immigration to the UK Sudan is now the most-represented group; migration to neighbouring countries such as South Sudan and Chad is in the millions
- According to several agencies on the ground, the numbers of people killed or maimed by explosive weaponry – either directly or from ‘unexploded’ arms – are increasing.
I could go on. The siege of El-Fasher led to deliberate targeting of civilians, widespread massacres, and a targetted and systematic strategy of wiping out non-Arab Africans – with a view to erasing or re-writing the country’s history, culture and identity. At a briefing in Parliament last week we heard that “the script is already written” as the RSF now move on to Tawila and El-Obeid. We can’t say we didn’t know what will happen in the Kordofans as the rehearsal in El-Fasher was so successful for the RSF. Civilians, humanitarian workers and volunteers are unprotected against both the SAF and RSF, cannon fodder in a war they didn’t start.
My Lords, it is timely that Sudan is now rising in prominence in both political and media spheres. The USA is finally beginning to wake up to the crisis.
Other Noble Lords will bring specific points to bear in the short speech time allowed, so I don’t want to cover every aspect of the tragedy we are witnessing. I hope we won’t have too much repetition, deviation or hesitation, but put on record the many sides of this conflict that need repeatedly to be heard, noted and responded to.
I am grateful to the Noble Baroness the Minister who has prioritised Sudan and made herself available for briefings and conversations. “Governments need to do more” is a constant plea on many issues, but I think there are one or two areas where ‘more’ might be achievable now.
First, the UK has a responsibility to step up its leadership of partner nations in working with the Quad and others to apply diplomatic, economic, political and moral pressure to (a) bring an end to the conflict, (b) stem the flow of arms and finance by countries such as the UAE, Egypt, Turkey, Iran and Russia – using its clout to interrupt the flow of gold and rare-earth minerals into the global markets and to hold publicly to account those countries which enable this brutality to continue, and (c) to mobilise – using military means, if possible – to provide immediate protection of civilians and humanitarian workers.
Key to this is the need to make all sides in the conflict seriously and unmistakably aware that they will be accountable in the future for their actions now. Atrocities will be punished under a rule of law to which belligerents pay no regard.
Secondly, the civilian population needs urgent protection. The need for a diplomatic surge is clear, but resolutions by themselves will not bring a ceasefire or a peace that, in the longer term, leads to civilian rule. As I indicated earlier, we must not see a re-run of El-Fasher in Tawila and El-Obeid. (Agencies are evidently not confident that this can be avoided without some targeted and serious interventions now.)
My Lords, the migration of Sudanese refugees into Europe in general and the UK in particular will only increase – a challenge that needs international partnership and coordination. The UK can take a more confident lead in this. Visit Sudan and everybody you speak with is crying out for the UK – for historical reasons – to step up its power and influence.
Wherever the future leads, international partners are going to have to attend to re-building infrastructure and civil society. The land is going to have to be de-mined and cleared of ordnance. And, most concerningly, a generation of young people who are suffering now will need massive support if cycles of vengeance and violence are not to be let loose in the years to come. Generational trauma will be fearsome.
Other speakers will touch on matters I have not had time to address. But, I hope my point is made. The humanitarian disaster – the worst in the world – cannot simply be observed from a distance; it needs concerted and determined attention and action. I look forward to the Minister’s response to the debate.
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