Yvette Cooper has emphasized the global failure to recognize the critical nature of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan, where reports detail mass atrocities including killings, starvation, and the use of rape as a tool of warfare.
The Foreign Secretary strongly criticized the distressing events in the Darfur region, where the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took over control of el-Fasher city. Approximately 260,000 individuals, half of whom are children, are currently stranded in famine-like conditions, isolated from aid, and exposed to life-threatening violence, according to the Foreign Office.
During a summit in Bahrain, Ms. Cooper, alongside foreign ministers from Germany and Jordan, urged for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing civil conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese military since 2023.
In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, Cooper expressed concern that the international community has not given sufficient attention to the crisis in Sudan, highlighting the dire situation of around 8 million people facing famine, equivalent to the population of London. She stressed the urgent need for action to address the escalating violence and atrocities, particularly the appalling use of rape as a weapon of war.
Ms. Cooper committed £5 million in emergency aid from the UK, with a significant portion allocated to assisting survivors of sexual violence. She also raised alarm over the regression in efforts to protect women in conflict zones since the passage of a UN resolution 25 years ago. Cooper emphasized the importance of refocusing efforts on combating violence against women and girls in conflict areas as a central aspect of foreign policy and international cooperation.