The US has secured agreements from Sudan's warring parties to allow aid deliveries to areas affected by the conflict, but more needs to be done to address the humanitarian crisis, US special envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello said on Thursday.
Mr Perriello told a press briefing that the agreements, reached through a diplomatic initiative led by the US, had allowed for the delivery of nearly 2.7 million kilograms of food and emergency relief to areas in need at a cost of more than $1 billion.
US-brokered peace talks aimed at ending the 16-month conflict in Sudan concluded in Geneva this week without any progress on the cessation of hostilities. The Sudanese Armed Forces did not attend the talks, but were consulted on progress.
One outcome of the Geneva talks is a code of conduct for soldiers in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militias, due to be implemented at the end of August, Mr Perriello said.
RSF soldiers have committed rampant human rights abuses in areas under their control, according to the UN, including murder, rape and theft of property.
We need to get the parties to respect humanitarian law and protect civilians, particularly women and children who have borne the brunt of this conflict
Tom Periello
However, despite the breakthroughs, Mr Perriello said both sides showed a lack of a political will to end the war, which is accelerating, he said.
He warned of forces working to undermine the diplomatic efforts to accomplish a ceasefire, including former regime officials from the ousted National Congress Party (NCP) who are trying to lock in governmental or political power.
He said “war profiteers who are making money off the conflict” are trying to undermine army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and the sovereign council and further warned of foreign fighters who are coming in on the side of the Rapid Support Forces who “have no interest in the stability or well-being of the Sudanese people”.
The US envoy underscored that the scale of suffering in Sudan remains “truly shocking” and that the international community must do more to address the crisis.
“The people of Sudan have suffered far too long, with 16 months of war and daily horrors of shelling and aerial bombing,” Mr Perriello said. “We need to get the parties to respect humanitarian law and protect civilians, particularly women and children who have borne the brunt of this conflict.”
He said that the United States is working with other countries and international organisations to increase support for humanitarian efforts in Sudan.
The humanitarian crisis in Sudan was exacerbated by the collapse of Arbaat dam on Sunday, located about 40 kilometres north-west of Port Sudan, after weeks of heavy rain caused at least 30 deaths, displaced tens of thousands and levelled dozens of villages.
Aid to tens of thousands of people affected by the collapse are proving to be far short of what is needed, a Unicef relief officer told The National.
“The suddenness of the dam’s collapse and the fact that the affected villages are spread out over a large area has made collecting accurate data very difficult. We are working to provide an accurate count of the dead, injured and displaced,” said Monib Mohamed, a Unicef public health officer and a team leader with Addition for Disaster Assistance and Development (ADD), a Sudanese NGO.
Ceasefire efforts need more attention
In response to criticisms from Sudanese civil society that US efforts to broker a ceasefire have thus far been insufficient and ineffective, he acknowledged that the Sudanese war has not received the attention it deserves.
“No, I believe it doesn't get anything like the attention it needs and deserves given the scale of suffering. I do think in addition to the stark scale of humanitarian suffering, the war now presents a real regional threat of instability and I think that has also increased the attention from a number of key actors,” Mr Perriello told The National during Thursday’s briefing.
He asserted that although the US mediation might have been less effective in the first year of the war, efforts have intensified since earlier this year.
“We can no longer accept any excuses for inaction, and we want to move forward and produce the results we can,” he said. “We do believe the international community has failed to meet the level of urgency for the crisis in Sudan but we really are appreciative of the partners that were part of the initiative, but much more needs to be done.”
Mr Perriello also emphasised the need for a return to a civilian-led transition in Sudan.
Sudan's transitional government, established after a 2019 uprising, was a power-sharing arrangement between civilian and military leaders meant to guide the country towards democratic elections. However, tensions between the two factions led to a military coup in October 2021, derailing the transition and setting the stage for the current conflict.
“The people of Sudan want to see an end to this war and a return to a civilian-led transition,” he said. “We will continue to work with our partners to try to find a path to peace and to support the people of Sudan in their aspirations for a democratic and inclusive future.”
The US envoy also addressed concerns about the flow of arms into Sudan, saying that the United States is working to enforce and extend the arms embargo for Darfur and to discourage the flow of arms into the country. “We need to get countries to be partners in trying to end the war and help the people of Sudan rebuild their country,” he said.
However, two of the humanitarian corridors agreed upon at the talks, Al Dabbah and Sinnar, remain caught in the crossfire of the civil war, with the SAF and RSF clashing over access as famine and conflict worsen.
The Geneva talks began two weeks ago and brought together representatives from the US, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, the UN, African Union, Egypt and the UAE.
Sudan's warring factions signed the Jeddah Declaration in May 2023 pledging to protect civilians, but fighting has continued with the SAF chief Abdel Fattah Al Burhan accusing the US of hosting Geneva as a means of bypassing previous engagements to the Jeddah platform.
Responding to these criticisms, Mr Perriello reaffirmed the US's commitment to the Jeddah platform. He emphasised that the US is continuing to engage with both parties on a regular basis to ensure that they live up to the agreements they made at Jeddah.
More than 25 million Sudanese face acute hunger and 755,000 are on the brink of famine, according to the World Food Programme.
On racial profiling at airports
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
Teaching in coronavirus times
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
ACC 2019: The winners in full
Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia
Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi
Best Screenplay Meryem Benm’Barek, Sofia
Best Documentary Of Fathers and Sons by Talal Derki
Best Film Yomeddine by Abu Bakr Shawky
Best Director Nadine Labaki, Capernaum
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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One-off T20 International: UAE v Australia
When: Monday, October 22, 2pm start
Where: Abu Dhabi Cricket, Oval 1
Tickets: Admission is free
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Darcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Coming 2 America
Directed by: Craig Brewer
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones
3/5 stars
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
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The specs: 2019 Subaru Forester
Price, base: Dh105,900 (Premium); Dh115,900 (Sport)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 182hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 239Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.1L / 100km (estimated)
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
TOURNAMENT INFO
Opening fixtures:
Friday, Oct 5
8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Paktia Panthers
Saturday, Oct 6
4pm: Nangarhar Leopards v Kandahar Knights
8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Balkh Legends
Tickets
Tickets can be bought online at https://www.q-tickets.com/apl/eventlist and at the ticket office at the stadium.
TV info
The tournament will be broadcast live in the UAE on OSN Sports.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
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The Lowdown
Us
Director: Jordan Peele
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseqph, Evan Alex and Elisabeth Moss
Rating: 4/5
Royal wedding inspired menu
Ginger, citrus and orange blossom iced tea
Avocado ranch dip with crudites
Cucumber, smoked salmon and cream cheese mini club sandwiches
Elderflower and lemon syllabub meringue
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The years Ramadan fell in May
