Eight international humanitarian organizations have issued a dire warning, stating that the ongoing war in Sudan is creating unbearable conditions for civilians.
In a joint appeal to the United Nations, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Danish Refugee Council, CARE, GOAL, Plan International, Relief International, Save the Children, and Solidarités International highlighted the escalating humanitarian catastrophe and called for urgent global action.
The conflict, which began in mid-April 2023, has now spread to 13 of Sudan’s 18 states, with violence intensifying in recent weeks. The humanitarian groups emphasized that efforts to control the violence and alleviate the suffering of Sudanese civilians have been woefully inadequate.
As the war rages on, Sudan is also grappling with a massive public health crisis, with the rapid spread of infectious diseases and a surge in malnutrition. Hunger now affects 26 million people, and 34% of children are suffering from malnutrition or acute malnutrition, the organizations reported. The combination of war and food insecurity is pushing the country toward the brink of collapse.
Cities like Al-Fasher, in Sudan’s Darfur region, have been especially devastated. The groups described it as “hell on earth” for thousands of women, children, and other vulnerable populations who are trapped in the violence with little access to aid or relief.
Save the Children also raised alarms about the outbreak of cholera, reporting that the number of deaths from the disease in Sudan has tripled the global average. Thousands of children are at risk as the infection spreads, while Sudan’s healthcare system has crumbled. More than 80% of the country’s hospitals are no longer functional, leaving millions without access to essential medical care.
The organizations are urging the international community to take immediate steps to stop the violence and ramp up humanitarian aid as the situation worsen, warning that without swift intervention, the suffering of Sudan’s civilians will only deepen.
