On September 5, the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan (ALPS) Group continued its weekly virtual sessions focused on expanding emergency humanitarian access and respecting international humanitarian law. The group released a joint statement detailing their progress in addressing the crisis in Sudan.
Last week, approximately 3,114 metric tons of supplies were delivered to around 300,000 people in Darfur, thanks to the ALPS Group and the dedicated efforts of humanitarian workers on the ground. The ALPS delegation continued to engage with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) with the urgent goal of improving road access from Port Sudan through Shendi to Khartoum, as well as routes from Khartoum to El Obeid and Kosti, including through Sennar.
The delegations also urged for additional border crossings to be opened, such as the Aweil crossing from South Sudan. They pressed the SAF to announce and effectively implement a simplified notification system, and for the RSF to fully adhere to it, aiming to reduce bureaucratic obstacles that endanger Sudanese lives daily. With over 25 million people at risk of famine and acute hunger, the statement emphasized that timely notification is crucial for the movement of humanitarian cargo in Sudan. Each delay, the statement warned, costs lives.
The ALPS Group welcomed the RSF's recent directive to protect civilians and pledged to closely monitor its implementation. Several critical areas, including El Fasher, were identified where the RSF and SAF should immediately deescalate hostilities to ensure civilian protection and urgent relief access, in line with the commitments made in the Jeddah Declaration. The delegations called on the international community to exert pressure on both sides to achieve this goal.
The group reiterated its commitment to collaborate with other international partners to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people and ultimately achieve a cessation of hostilities agreement. They also reaffirmed their commitment to consult with Sudanese women as part of the ALPS platform.
