UNITED NATIONS, Aug 28 (IPS) – The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, stemming from the civil war that began last year, continues to escalate as people face hunger and displacement, UN Secretary-General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said at a press conference on August 21.
The civil war broke out in April 2023 when the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces began a fierce armed conflict in the capital Khartoum. According to reports from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 18,800 civilians have been killed and more than 33,000 wounded in the crossfire.
Edem Wosornu, OCHA’s Director of Operations and Advocacy, further stated at a press conference on August 6 that the ongoing siege and conflict between the two sides has led to many women and girls being raped.
Food insecurity is currently the most pressing issue facing Sudan. Stephen Omollo, Assistant Executive Director for Workplace and Management at the World Food Programme (WFP), stressed that “famine is present in Zamzam camp near El Fasher in North Darfur and other areas in Darfur and elsewhere are at high risk, with more than half of the country’s population facing crisis-level famine.”
WFP and the International Organization for Migration are currently delivering food to areas most affected by famine, such as West Darfur, where 13,000 people are at risk of starvation. Wosornu added that the 26 million people facing acute hunger in Sudan are three times the population of New York City.
A spokesman for the British representative to the UN added that about 100 Sudanese will starve to death every day until the conflict is resolved.
In addition, many communities have been displaced as a result of the severe armed conflict in the capital Khartoum and the Darfur region. The conflict in Sudan is considered the largest displacement crisis in the world, with as many as 10.7 million people displaced to other areas within Sudan and many more fleeing to neighbouring countries, according to OCHA.
“Since the beginning of the current wave of hostilities in Sudan, more than 780,000 men, women and children have crossed the border into the town of Renk,” Dujarric said.
In addition, more than 5 million children are internally displaced and 19 million children have no access to education, as 90 percent of schools are closed, making Sudan one of the worst education crises in the world.
For the effective use of humanitarian aid, it is essential that the conflict ends as soon as possible. Constant sieges and fighting prevent the humanitarian community in Sudan and the United Nations from providing life-saving aid.
Aid trucks have been severely hampered in Sudan. Sudanese authorities have prevented the use of the Adre crossing, the most effective route for delivering aid. In addition, many humanitarian workers have been attacked, abducted and harassed.
Wosornu argues that “the conflict must end to enable the rapid delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the country. The warring parties must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law. Rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Sudan through all possible routes and increased resources, including flexible financing, are also needed.” She adds that if these conditions were met, the current situation in Sudan would be much less serious.
Dujarric added that “peacekeepers have set up a temporary base in the area (Renk, Sudan) and are helping to deliver aid safely. They are providing protection to deter violence between different communities, who are forced to live together in overcrowded conditions and with increasingly scarce resources.”
At present, the Sudanese authorities deny that there is a serious famine and that there is no obstruction to humanitarian aid. A delegate for Sudan stated that the conditions in a Zamzam refugee camp do not meet the criteria for a declaration of famine. Furthermore, they stated that there have been no deaths from hunger. They reiterated that the aid is not being obstructed by the Sudanese government, but that the blame lies with the Rapid Support Forces.
The UN and WFP are currently negotiating with the Sudanese authorities to increase the number of aid trucks and make greater use of the Adre Passage, which will make key distribution points much easier to access. It is essential that aid is delivered on a consistent basis, as there are 12 areas facing significant famine.
In addition, the UN predicts that approximately $2.7 billion will be needed for the Sudan Humanitarian Appeal. As of the date of publication, this plan is only 32 percent funded, with a total of $874 raised for this effort. It is crucial that donors contribute financially, as Sudan is currently on the brink of collapse and is facing the world’s worst crises in displacement, hunger, education and violence.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
