Fighting parties in Sudan urged by UN to ceasefire during holy month of Ramadan

The UN Security Council has told Sudan’s fighting groups to stop fighting during Ramadan and let food and aid reach 25 million people who need help.

Ramadan is expected to start on Monday or a little later, depending on when the crescent moon is seen.

The council of 15 people mostly agreed with the resolution from Britain. 14 countries supported it and only Russia did not vote.

Sudan became very chaotic in April this happened because the military, led by Gen Abdel Fattah Burhan, had been having problems for a longtime and the Rapid Support Forces, led by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, fought in the streets of Khartoum.

Violent fighting spread to more areas in the country, especially in cities. In Sudan’s western part called Darfur, the fighting was different. The Arab-dominated Rapid Support Forces carried out brutal attacks on African civilians. Many people have died.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wants both sides to agree to stop fighting during Ramadan. He said that the conflict, which has been going on for almost a year,could cause big problems for the country and the surrounding region. The African Union also supports the idea of stopping the fighting during Ramadan.

Burhan was happy that the UN leader asked for peace, but the Sudanese Foreign Ministry said on Friday that there are conditions for the ceasefire to work. The Rapid Support Forces did not answer.

The resolution is very worried about the growing violence and the terrible humanitarian situation, including the serious lack of food in Darfur.

Britain’s deputy UN ambassador James Kariuki asked the Sudanese armed forces and Rapid Support Forces to listen to the international call for peace and stop fighting.

The Security Council asked the fighting groups to talk and find a way to end the conflict for good. Kariuki also said that both sides need to trust each other and work together to bring back peace.

The UN says that 8. 3 million people had to leave their homes because of fighting between the government and paramilitary groups. Half of the country’s 51 million people need help, and most of the health facilities aren’t working.