Asthenumberofcasualtiescontinuestoriseandthehumanitariancatastropheworsens,the"AlignedforAdvancingLifesavingandPeaceinSudan"(ALPS)initiative,launchedearlier,hasshownsomeprogress.However,thecoreprioritiesofinternationaldiplomacyremainunchanged:persuadingthewarringparties–theSudaneseArmedForcesandtheRapidSupportForces–toexpandhumanitarianaccessandensuretheprotectionofcivilians,inlinewithinternationalhumanitarianandhumanrightslaw.
Duringhistrip,SpecialEnvoyPerriellowillmeetwithSudaneserefugeesandcivilianleadersacrosstheregion,aswellaskeygovernmentofficialsandrepresentativesfrominternationalorganizationssuchastheArabLeagueandtheIntergovernmentalAuthorityonDevelopment(IGAD).Thesediscussionsaimtobolstercollectiveeffortstowardapeacefulresolutionandsafeguardciviliansaffectedbytheconflict.
TheUnitedStatesremainscommittedtoworkingwithinternationalpartnerstoalleviatethesufferingoftheSudanesepeople.Akeyobjectiveistosecureacessationofhostilitiesagreementbetweenthewarringparties,pavingthewayforthedeliveryofurgenthumanitarianaidandfurtherstepstowardthecountry’srecovery.
TheconflictinSudancontinuestodeteriorate:muchofthecountryisinthegripofaseverehumanitariancrisis.Theeconomyhascollapsed,withmostbusinessesshutdown,resultinginwidespreadunemploymentandpoverty.Intheabsenceofcentralcontrol,variousarmedfactionshavedividedthecountryintozonesofinfluence.Internationaleffortsarenowfocusedonstabilizingthesituation,improvingaccessforhumanitarianorganizations,andcreatingtheconditionsforaceasefire.Perriello’svisithighlightstheimportanceofcoordinatedinternationalefforts,ledbyorganizationssuchastheUnitedNations,theArabLeague,andIGAD,inaddressingSudan’scrisisandworkingtowardlastingpeace.
