People wait for rides Wednesday as they flee fighting in Sudan. (Reuters)

The Sudanese parties to the pre-negotiation engagements in Saudi Arabia have signed a commitment to protect civilians and guarantee the safe passage of humanitarian aid, mediators said.

The representatives from the army and paramilitary forces signed the agreement in Saudi’s coastal city of Jeddah on Thursday.

“We affirm our commitment to ensuring the protection of civilians at all times, including by allowing safe passage for civilians to leave areas of active hostilities on a voluntary basis in the direction of their choice,” reads the declaration, according to French news agency AFP.

According to the deal, both sides must commit to allow badly-needed humanitarian assistance, which have been targeted with looting and attacks.

The U.S. Department of State also announced the humanitarian pause that it helped negotiated together with the oil-rich Gulf kingdom.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America are pleased to announce that on May 11, 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces signed a Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan.,” U.S. said.

The statement from Washington said the Declaration of Commitment recognizes the obligations of both sides under international humanitarian and human rights law to facilitate humanitarian action to meet the emergency needs of civilians.

“The Declaration of Commitment will guide the conduct of the two forces to enable the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance, the restoration of essential services, the withdrawal of forces from hospitals and clinics, and the respectful burial of the dead.”

After signing the deal, the warring sides will now focus on reaching agreement on an effective ceasefire of up to approximately ten days to facilitate these activities, the U.S. underscored, adding that the security measures will include a U.S.- Saudi and international-supported ceasefire monitoring mechanism.

However, a U.S. diplomat, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the talks are difficult and that the parties have not yet agreed to a ceasefire.

The fighting between the Sudanese army led by General Abdal Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, is nearing its fourth week.

The American official involved in the talks, said a proposal on the table would establish a new 10-day truce, which would lead, in turn, to negotiations on a longer-term end to fighting.

On Thursday, clashes rocked Halfaya, an entry point to the Sudanese capital Khartoum, Al Jazeera reports.

The World Health Organization said more than 600 people have been killed and more than 5,000 injured in the fighting.

Sudan’s Health Ministry also said at least 450 people were killed in the western Darfur region.