Sudan's warring sides pledge to observe 3-day cease-fire

People gather as they flee clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum, Sudan April 24, 2023. [VOA]

A three-day cease-fire between Sudan's warring factions went into effect Tuesday after what the United States called "intense negotiation."

Both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) publicly pledged to uphold the halt in fighting.

"To support a durable end to the fighting, the United States will coordinate with regional and international partners, and Sudanese civilian stakeholders, to assist in the creation of a committee to oversee the negotiation, conclusion, and implementation of a permanent cessation of hostilities and humanitarian arrangements in Sudan," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

The World Health Organization warned Tuesday of a "huge biological risk" after one of the sides in the Sudan conflict occupied a lab that holds measles and cholera pathogens and other hazardous materials.

Nima Saeed Abid, the WHO's representative in Sudan, did not specify which side was involved, but told reporters the situation was "extremely dangerous."

"This is the main concern: no accessibility to the lab technicians to go to the lab and safely contain the biological material and substances available," he said.

At least 427 people have been killed and more than 3,700 wounded, according to U.N. agencies, since fighting began April 15.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Monday called on U.N. Security Council members "to exert maximum leverage with the parties to end the violence, restore order and return to the path of the democratic transition."

The Security Council is due to hold a meeting about Sudan on Tuesday.

Guterres also said the U.N. is not leaving Sudan but has temporarily relocated "hundreds" of staff members inside and outside of the country.

Amid the fighting, countries have rushed to evacuate their diplomats and citizens.

Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Ukraine and the United States are among the nations using aircraft and convoys to bring foreign nationals out of the country.

Spanish diplomatic personnel and citizens wait to disembark a military plane in Djibouti, after they were evacuated from Sudan, April 24, 2023.

A majority of U.S. government personnel who evacuated the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, arrived Monday afternoon in Washington.

Britain's foreign office said it began an evacuation effort Tuesday with flights leaving from an airfield outside of Khartoum.

China's foreign ministry said Tuesday most of its nationals had been safely evacuated.

Sudanese nationals are fending for themselves amid power blackouts and loss of internet service.

Some Sudanese have made the decision to escape in cars and buses on the dangerous roads.