Abigail spoke in Parliament about the violence in Sudan and the need for Government humanitarian support.

NOTICE OF MOTION: Sudan

(1) That this House notes the tragedy unfolding through the outbreak of violence in Sudan, with over a thousand people killed and millions trapped without access to food, water or electricity, and recognises it as the emergence of a severe humanitarian crisis.

(2) That this house notes that:

1. the capital of Sudan, Khartoum, has been the centre of violent outbreaks between the army and a 100,000 strong Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group as they fight for power and control,
2. this follows four years of Sudan’s attempt to build a civilian led government arising from decades of military rule,
3. plans for civilian rule have been jeopardised as ceasefires across the country are repeatedly breached,
4. the two clashing forces have both been linked to war crimes across the nation, including ethnic cleansing in regions such as Darfur, South Kordofan, The Nuba Mountains and the Blue Nile region, and
5. this battle follows on from the killing of 2000 peaceful protesters in front of the military headquarters on 3 June 2019.

(3) That this House notes that:

1. Sudanese people in the country and across the diaspora have repeated their wish to remove the military dictatorship and call for the army and RSF to cease-fire in a powerplay that will see one of their leaders installed as the new dictator of Sudan,
2. outside Khartoum, violence has been reported in Darfur, a region that suffered from a conflict in 2003 which saw 300,000 people die and 2.7 million displaced, and
3. there is concern across the globe of a broader conflict unfolding involving external powers.

(4) That while countries rush to evacuate their citizens, this House extend solidarity with the people of Sudan left behind, desperately seeking an exit route towards a democratic nation themselves.

(5) That this House also extends our thoughts to the families of the diaspora here in Australia, painfully waiting to hear of news from their families in Sudan.

(6) That this House call on the Australian Government to:

1. immediately ensure urgent humanitarian assistance is provided,
2. explicitly call for peace and a return to civilian rule,
3. provide urgent evacuation assistance for Australian-Sudanese,
4. call for humanitarian corridors and medical supplies to be accessible, and
5. speak to the Sudanese embassy in Australia and condemn the people responsible for these atrocities.