The Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Giorgio Silli, spoke today in Paris at the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Neighbouring Countries, organised by France, Germany and the European Union in Paris on 15 April, exactly one year after the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan.
Undersecretary Silli expressed Italy’s deep solidarity with the Sudanese people, condemning the increasing ethnic violence and the severe violations of human rights and international humanitarian law to the detriment of the civilian population by both sides in the conflict. He then expressed great concern about the internal and regional consequences of the Sudanese crisis, which, with over six million displaced people and one and a half million refugees in neighbouring countries, is now the largest humanitarian crisis in the world in terms of number of displaced people.
While stressing that a negotiated solution is urgently needed, Undersecretary Silli said: “Italy renews its appeal to all actors involved in the Sudanese conflict to immediately end the armed clashes, protect civilians and refrain from attacks on civilian infrastructure.” He added: “Italy supports and encourages all mediation efforts – by the UN, the African Union and other international and regional actors – to achieve the end of hostilities and the resumption of an inclusive political dialogue, with a view to restoring civilian institutions in Sudan.”