Sudan's warring sides held indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday about protecting civilians and ensuring humanitarian aid delivery.

The United Nations, which is mediating the talks with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), said negotiators hoped to secure "potential local cease-fires."

The sides are not negotiating directly, but rather holding "proximity talks," the UN said.

Fighting in Sudan between the army and paramilitaries has been ongoing for over a year.

Sudan faces famine and major humanitarian crises

The bloody conflict has killed more than 14,000 people and wounded 33,000, according to UN estimates.

Around 25 million people — more than half the population — need aid, and nearly 18 million face acute food insecurity.

"The discussions seek to identify avenues for the advancement of the identified humanitarian and protection of civilian measures through possible local ceasefires, as requested by the Security Council," UN spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci said.

Previous talks 'broke down'

Previously, talks sponsored by the United States and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between the army and RSF broke down at the end of last year.

US Special Envoy Tom Perriello joined the Geneva talks to find ways to alleviate Sudan's humanitarian crisis and bring the warring parties together, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told CBS News.

sp/lo (AP, Reuters)