This Russian veto condemns Africans to further killing, rape and starvation in Sudan鈥檚 brutal civil war: UK explanation of vote at the UN Security Council
Explanation of vote by the Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan.
For over eighteen months, Sudanese civilians have endured unimaginable violence.
We have seen and heard the testimony.
Atrocities driven by ethnic hatred.
Sexual violence, including mass rape.
Children abducted and recruited as soldiers in this horror.
Aid workers attacked.
Essential supplies blocked.
Homes, schools, hospitals destroyed and looted.聽
This suffering is a scar on聽the聽collective conscience.
聽On a scale that is frankly hard to comprehend.聽
In the face of this horror, the UK and Sierra Leone 鈥� working in partnership - sought to bring this聽Council together to address this humanitarian emergency and catastrophe.
聽To protect civilians.
To ensure aid access.
To call for a ceasefire.
One country stood in the way of the Council speaking with one voice.
One country is the blocker.
One country is the enemy of peace.
This Russian veto is a disgrace.
And it shows to the world yet again Russia鈥檚 true colours.
Shame on Putin for waging a war of aggression in Ukraine.
Shame on Putin for using his mercenaries to spread conflict and violence across the African continent.聽
And聽shame on Putin for pretending to be a partner of the Global South.
聽While condemning Black Africans to further killing, further rape, further starvation in a brutal civil war.
I ask the Russian representative in all conscience sitting there on his phone.
How many more Sudanese have to be killed?
How many more women have to be raped?
How many more children have to go without food?
Before Russia will act?
Russia will have to explain itself to the entire United Nations membership now.
While Britain doubles aid.
Russia blocks aid access.
While Britain works with our African partners.
Russia vetoes their will.
We tabled this resolution to show the Sudanese people and the world that they are not forgotten.
This text would have called on parties to agree humanitarian pauses.
To ensure the safe passage and get aid to where it is needed.
It would have galvanised support to local groups, who are taking unimaginable risks to protect their communities.
And it would have increased pressure on the warring parties to agree a ceasefire by supporting mediation efforts.聽
Mean,聽nasty and聽cynical, Russia鈥檚 veto today sends a message to the warring parties that they can act with impunity.
聽That they can ignore their commitments and responsibilities to protect their own people.
Let me be clear.
I will not stop calling for more action to protect the people of Sudan.
I will not stop calling more aid.
I will not stop working with our partners in Africa and around the world to help
The UK will not forget Sudan.