SUDAN’s warring parties have ended peace talks in Switzerland by agreeing to improve access for humanitarian aid, with two routes identified to ensure the flow of resources to civilians.
But mediators at the peace talks noted that the Sudanese army’s absence from the discussions hindered progress in the discussions to end the country’s 16-month-long war.
Friday marked the conclusion of the 10-day peace talks, led by the United States in the Swiss city of Geneva.
During the talks, a group of mediators representing countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates tried to negotiate more aid and protection for Sudanese civilians facing famine, mass displacement and disease.
The mediators have dubbed themselves the “Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan (ALPS) Group”, and on Friday, they announced they had secured promises to let aid flow into Sudan through two areas.
One was the Adre border crossing with Chad, which leads into the Darfur region. The other was along the Dabbah Road from Port Sudan on the Red Sea.
The mediators also reported progress towards opening another route through the Sennar Junction.
“Aid trucks are on the road to provide famine relief in Zamzam Camp and other parts of Darfur,” a joint statement from the meditators said.
“These routes must remain open and safe so we can surge aid into Darfur and begin to turn the tide against famine. Food and starvation cannot be used as a weapon of war.”
US Sudan envoy Tom Perriello told a press conference in Geneva: “We hope that this will be a source of momentum for much bigger steps and progress down the road.”
