During the fighting in Sudan, at least 185 people were killed and 1,800 were injured.

At least 185 people have been killed and 1,800 injured in fighting in Sudan that began on Saturday, Volker Perthes, UN special envoy for the country, said on Monday.

“The situation is very changeable. It is difficult to assess in which direction the balance is shifting,” Volker Perthes told the press after a meeting of the Security Council, which was held behind closed doors.

The fighting, now in its third day, is confronting the Sudanese armed forces, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group using heavy weapons and aircraft in clashes, with many civilians caught in the crossfire.

“I am in constant contact with the leaders of both sides,” he added, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an “immediate” cessation of hostilities a few hours ago.

Due to the situation, the United Nations has suspended its activities in the country, António Guterres spokesman Stéphane Duharric said, stressing that the UN “will not ask its staff to come to work unless their safety is clearly guaranteed.”

This conflict “only exacerbates an already fragile situation”, forcing UN agencies and humanitarian partners to temporarily close many of their more than 250 programs in Sudan,” lamented, for his part, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. UN, Martin Griffiths, in a statement.

“The impact of this suspension will be felt immediately, especially in the areas of food security and nutritional support in a country where about four million children, pregnant and lactating women suffer from acute malnutrition,” he stressed.

Three African members of the Security Council (Ghana, Gabon and Mozambique) called for an “immediate ceasefire” in a joint statement after the meeting of the Security Council.

“We urge the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to quickly reach a peaceful solution and inclusive dialogue in the spirit of Ramadan to resolve their differences,” the three countries defended.