UN aid chief hails talks with Sudan army leader

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher held this week what he called "constructive" talks with Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to ensure lifesaving aid reaches all corners of the war-ravaged country.

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Since April 2023, the war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has killed tens of thousands and displaced nearly 12 million, creating one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.

"I very much welcome the constructive conversations I had with President Burhan ... aimed at ensuring that we can continue to operate everywhere across Sudan to deliver in a neutral, independent and impartial way for all those who are in such dire need of international support," Fletcher said, in a video released by Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council.

The UN official's comments came after he met with Burhan in Port Sudan, the de facto capital since the war began. Fletcher arrived in Sudan this week for a week-long mission, pledging to "back peace efforts, uphold the UN charter, and push for our teams to get the access and funding they need to save lives across the battle lines."