NEW YORK, 10 March, 2020, (TON): The head of the United Nations mission in Sudan on Tuesday warned against ignoring economic hardships that are posing a risk to stability in the Northeast African country.

"We cannot ignore, though, that economic hardships are posing a risk to Sudan's stability," head of United Nations Integrated Transitional Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), Volker Perthes, said in his first briefing to the Security Council's videoconference briefing on the mission.

“Economic hardships compounded by 304 per cent inflation, large trade and fiscal deficits, high unemployment and poverty are posing a risk to Sudan’s stability.  Further, 13.4 million people, one quarter of the population are projected to require humanitarian assistance, including 2.5 million internally displaced persons,” said the German diplomat, who was appointed by the secretary-general as his new special representative for Sudan and head of UNITAMS.

Recalling that Sudan hosts 1 million refugees, including 70,000 recent arrivals from Ethiopia he said that “the need for sustained financial and economic support to Sudan cannot be overstated.”

"I therefore urge the international community to step up their assistance to Sudan," Perthes added.

The official said that the protection of civilians, meanwhile, remains a top UNITAMS priority, especially as inter-communal clashes in El Geneina, West Darfur, in January left 165 people dead and over 100,000 displaced.  “Peace will only be sustainable if the root causes and ramifications of the conflicts are addressed,” he observed.

"During my team's recent visit to Darfur, displaced men and women expressed their fears of further violence and insecurity, including gender-based violence," Perthes added.

Sudan’s recession deepened in 2020, as the usual challenges were compounded by a health crisis, as well as a locust infestation and floods that hit agricultural production. The country is expected to recover only with great difficulty from this situation, recording very weak growth in 2021. Private consumption, which represents 70% of GDP, fell in 2020 (-8.3%) and will continue to decline in 2021, as galloping inflation and internal conflicts disrupt the ability of households to maintain income levels.