Mary Robinson: World's indifference to Sudan humanitarian crisis 'appalling'

Mary Robinson speaking at an emergency briefing on Sudan organised by Dóchas. Picture: Julien Behal

The only thing more appalling than what is happening in Sudan is the world's indifference to it, former president Mary Robinson has said.

It is more than 500 days since conflict erupted in Sudan and more than 20,000 people have been killed. More than 12 million people have been displaced.

Over 26 million people are in danger due to the conflict and hunger, with 700,000 children under the age of five at risk of dying from starvation.

"It is the biggest humanitarian crisis and it gets very little attention. It amounts to a kind of indifference about human beings," said Ms Robinson.

Speaking at an emergency briefing on Sudan organised by Dóchas, Ms Robinson said Ireland needed to be a voice for the Sudanese people at the upcoming UN General Assembly next week and the UN Summit of the Future later this month.

More than 20,000 people have been killed and 12 million displaced since the conflict started in Sudan. Picture: Mustafa Younes via AP

One key issue that must be addressed is the need to widen the arms embargo to the whole of Sudan, instead of just Darfur.

The chair of the Elders focused on the role women play in ending conflict and highlighted the efforts of Sudanese women on the ground helping people in their own communities through initiatives such as emergency kitchens.

"Far too much of peacekeeping nowadays is the bad men coming together in front of televisions lights and semi making peace and then reneging on it," she said.

The panel, which included charities Concern Worldwide, Goal, Trócaire, and World Vision Ireland, also highlighted the impacts the conflict has on women who are being raped on both sides as a weapon of war.

"This is, in effect, a manmade crisis where women's bodies are the battlefield," said Trócaire chief executive Caoimhe de Barra.

The number of women dying in childbirth is rising, armed groups are coming into camps and raping mothers and daughters, with some daughters being forced into marriage. Other women are forced into turning to prostitution to feed their children.

Ireland, and the global community, must commit to ending the conflict as soon as possible, said Ms de Barra.

"We owe this to the people of Sudan. We have said never again too often, this time we need to act like we mean it," she concluded.