Sudan Humanitarian Crisis: Over 25 Million People in Desperate Need and Facing Intense Conflict, Warns UN
The United Nations (UN) has issued a stark warning about the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan, with over 25 million people facing intense conflict and desperate need. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, revealed that more than half of the population requires urgent assistance and protection as the fighting continues unabated.
Salami highlighted the staggering number of people who have been displaced within Sudan or forced to seek refuge in neighboring countries. With over 6 million individuals uprooted from their homes, she emphasized that behind these statistics lie real people whose lives have been forever changed. The recent commitments made in Jeddah by the parties to the conflict in Sudan signify a crucial moment for the country, but Salami stressed the importance of ensuring that the promises made by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to protect civilians and grant unhindered humanitarian access are upheld.
Protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure should be a top priority for all parties involved, yet the UN’s concerns have been validated by the grim reality on the ground. Hospitals have been subjected to attacks, destruction, and occupation, leaving very little spared in the wake of the conflict that erupted in April. Reports of escalating violence and attacks against civilians, potentially on ethnic grounds in Darfur, have only compounded the dire situation. Salami emphasized the urgency of adhering to International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and called for an end to these brutal attacks, with those responsible being held accountable.
The spread of fighting to Al Jazirah State, known as Sudan’s breadbasket, raises the alarm of even more people succumbing to hunger. The health sector in conflict areas has been decimated, with more than 70 percent of health facilities out of service. This alarming situation is exacerbated by ongoing outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, dengue, malaria, and measles, further jeopardizing the lives and well-being of the affected population.
Salami expressed distress over the relentless acts of sexual and gender-based violence, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and grave violations of human and children’s rights. The atrocities being committed are verging on pure evil, underscoring the urgent need for the protection of civilians to remain a top priority.
While over 4.1 million people have received life-saving aid since the start of the conflict, the challenges persist. Negotiations for access have been intense, and funding remains a major issue. The UN has only received a little over a third of the $2.6 billion required for this year’s humanitarian response.
The Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator acknowledged that attracting and maintaining the world’s attention towards the crisis in Sudan is a daunting task, given the multitude of other global crises currently in the spotlight. However, she emphasized that the scale and depth of the Sudan crisis demand equal attention and urgency. Failure to act promptly will only pave the way for a protracted crisis, devoid of hope and dreams, and that is something that must be prevented at all costs.
In conclusion, the UN’s warnings paint a harrowing picture of the Sudan humanitarian crisis. With over 25 million people suffering from ongoing conflict and desperate need, urgent action is required to protect civilians, ensure access to essential services, and provide life-saving aid. The international community must rally together to respond to this urgent call for assistance and prevent Sudan from spiraling into an even deeper crisis.
