The UN’s political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo has condemned the continuing flow of weapons to the conflict in Sudan, urging an immediate halt to external military support. Both the army and the paramilitary RSF are escalating their operations and recruiting new fighters, fuelled by substantial foreign backing. She said that this external support is prolonging the conflict and worsening the humanitarian crisis, which has so far claimed over 24,000 lives and displaced 11 million people. The civil war, ignited in April 2023 by a power struggle between two rival leaders, has led to widespread atrocities, with both sides accused of war crimes, including ethnic cleansing. Despite calls for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations, both sides remain entrenched, partly due to the continued influx of arms. The UN Security Council is discussing a resolution which urges the warring parties to allow unhindered humanitarian aid deliveries, as more than half of the country’s population of 50 million faces severe food shortages.