UN Spokesperson: Pedersen Meets Hemedti, Briefs on Humanitarian Situation

Moatinoon – United Nations
United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Pasi Havisto, is currently in Nairobi, Kenya, where he met on Monday with Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti). This follows his recent meetings with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council, as well as consultations with authorities in Khartoum as part of his ongoing preliminary engagements.

During the daily press briefing, Dujarric stated that these meetings provided a constructive opportunity to exchange views and explore practical ways to de-escalate tensions and ensure continued protection of civilians.

He added that all relevant parties engaged by the Personal Envoy during these visits expressed readiness to cooperate with the United Nations and the envoy, stressing that “this is encouraging and must be translated quickly into tangible progress toward ultimately ending the suffering of all Sudanese.”

Dujarric noted that Havisto had also been in Cairo at the end of last week, where he met with Egyptian officials, representatives of the League of Arab States, and members of the Sudanese community in Egypt.

Humanitarian Situation
On the humanitarian front, the spokesperson said that the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Denise Brown, is returning to Khartoum accompanied by a core team from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

He added that most of the office’s staff remain in Port Sudan for the time being, noting that several UN agencies have reopened their offices in Khartoum in recent months after having been closed since the outbreak of the war.

Dujarric emphasized that “the arrival of Brown and her team reflects a renewed commitment to expanding humanitarian operations in the capital and its surroundings, at a time when humanitarian needs are surging dramatically.”

He recalled that more than 1.6 million Sudanese have returned to Khartoum in recent months, despite the continued risks posed by explosive remnants of war and damaged infrastructure.

He reiterated the call to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, to immediately cease hostilities, and to ensure rapid, safe, unhindered, and sustained humanitarian access, as the third anniversary of the conflict in Sudan approaches.

Attacks Endangering Civilians
The UN spokesperson relayed warnings from humanitarian colleagues that drone attacks continue to endanger civilians and exacerbate humanitarian needs across Sudan.

He noted that in White Nile State, reports indicated that an attack on Al-Jabalayn Teaching Hospital last Thursday killed 10 health workers and injured 22 others, severely disrupting all services at the facility.

He once again stressed the need to protect medical personnel and healthcare facilities in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Since the conflict began, the World Health Organization has documented more than 200 such attacks, resulting in over 2,000 deaths. In the first quarter of this year alone, 13 attacks on healthcare facilities were recorded, leaving 184 people dead and nearly 300 injured.

Dujarric also highlighted the urgent need for adequate funding for humanitarian operations in Sudan. The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which requires 2.9 billion to assist more than 20 million people across the country, is currently only 16 percent funded.