Two ICRC drivers killed by gunmen in Sudan
Published: Thursday, May 2nd 2024, 22:00
Updated At: Thursday, May 2nd 2024, 22:21
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Two drivers from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were killed by gunmen in Sudan on Thursday. Three other employees were injured in the attack, as the ICRC in Geneva announced in a communiqué in the evening.
The team was on its way back from a mission in Layba in southern Darfur, where it had been assessing the humanitarian situation of local communities suffering from armed violence, when the attack occurred. The ICRC called for the immediate protection of the civilian population, including humanitarian workers and medical staff. They must not be attacked.
Pierre Dorbes, the head of the delegation in Sudan, expressed his condolences to the relatives and wished the injured a speedy recovery. His priority was to support those affected by the tragedy and their families.
The ICRC has been active in Sudan since 1978. Since April 2023, its work on the ground has consisted of supplying hospitals in the conflict region with medical supplies. The ICRC works together with the Sudanese Red Crescent or independently.
It also helps families separated by the conflict to contact their relatives. It also works with the local authorities to supply water.
Humanitarian catastrophe
In Sudan, the army of de facto ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the militias of the Rapid Support Forces of his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo are fighting each other. The power struggle has triggered what is now the world's largest refugee crisis.
According to the latest UN figures, over 8.6 million people have been displaced, including four million children. Two million people fled to neighboring countries, particularly Chad, South Sudan and Egypt.
According to UN figures, 18 million people are currently suffering from acute hunger. Of the 49 million people in Sudan, 25 million need humanitarian aid this year.
At a donor conference in Paris in mid-April, the German Foreign Minister warned of a "terrible famine" in the country in north-east Africa. Switzerland pledged CHF 19 million in aid at the conference.
It is also working at multilateral level to promote peace, protect the civilian population, improve the humanitarian situation and find a political solution to the conflict. The conflict in Sudan broke out almost exactly one year ago.
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