WASHINGTON: United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has called for a ceasefire in Sudan, stressing the urgent need for a humanitarian truce to allow for the expansion of life-saving aid across the country.

Speaking at a US-organized event in Washington to mobilize resources for the humanitarian response in Sudan, Fletcher noted that the country’s dire humanitarian crisis has persisted for over 1,000 days due to the ongoing fighting.

He emphasized the necessity of a cessation of hostilities to pave the way for peace in the country, reiterating the UN’s support for securing a humanitarian truce.

In his address, Fletcher called for the disarmament of key areas where fighting is taking place, stressing the importance of rapidly expanding life-saving assistance throughout Sudan to halt the continued displacement and the deteriorating humanitarian situation.

The UN pointed out that after more than 1,000 days of war in Sudan, the latest data confirms that there are 9.3 million internally displaced persons due to the ongoing conflict, in addition to more than 4.3 million people who have fled Sudan.