Chair of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Calls for Bold Action on Sudan

moatinoon
The Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Ben Cardin, has urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to take decisive action on Sudan during the United Nations Security Council ministerial meeting on December 19.

In a letter sent Tuesday, Senator Ben Cardin, a Democrat, emphasized the urgent need to protect Sudanese civilians and strengthen multilateral measures to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country. He stressed that the Security Council must move beyond deliberation to take bold and coordinated steps to alleviate the suffering of Sudanese civilians and curb the escalating violence.

Cardin outlined these actions in five steps: prioritizing civilian protection, supporting humanitarian access and aid, enforcing the current arms embargo in Darfur, expanding the embargo to cover the entire country, and holding perpetrators of atrocities accountable.

"Sudan represents the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, and the ongoing conflict is slowly extinguishing the light of hope for tens of millions of Sudanese both inside and outside the country," Cardin stated in his letter.

"I write to urge you to seize this opportunity to ensure that the Security Council moves beyond discussion and begins implementing more meaningful actions to save lives and prevent further atrocities in Sudan," he added.

Cardin also emphasized the need to end impunity, stating, "The Council and member states must hold those violating the embargo accountable. Proper enforcement alone could significantly impact the conflict, including the types and levels of violence, its effects on civilians, and the willingness of parties to seek a peaceful resolution."