UN Declares Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan a Complete Disaster Amid Ongoing Conflict
The United Nations has declared the humanitarian crisis in Sudan a complete disaster, as the nation endures nearly 16 months of conflict between opposing factions.
This stark announcement came during a Security Council meeting on Tuesday, highlighting the dire situation affecting millions of Sudanese citizens.
Edem Wosornu, the Director of Operations and Advocacy at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), sharply criticized the blockade of essential supplies, which endangers the lives of malnourished children in North Darfur.
She described the situation as “an entirely man-made crisis” and “a shameful stain on our collective conscience.”
“When famine happens, it means we are too late. It means we did not do enough. It means we, the international community, have failed,” Wosornu stated emphatically. “This is an entirely man-made crisis and a shameful stain on our collective conscience.”
Stephen Omollo, the Assistant Executive Director for Workplace and Management, revealed that the Famine Review Committee has determined that famine conditions exist in the Zamzam camp, located near El Fasher in North Darfur.
He warned that aid organizations are being prevented from reaching crucial areas of the country where food and other vital supplies are desperately needed, and noted that these warnings have gone unheeded.
Al-Harith Idriss al-Harith Mohamed, Sudan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, addressed the Security Council, stating, “We have previously emphasized the need for the Security Council to denounce the nations supplying weapons and logistical aid to the RSF, as their involvement exacerbates the conflict.”
“This situation is worsening the humanitarian crisis. Some major countries have outright refused to support the inclusion of a condemnation of the RSF in resolution 2736.”
Reports from aid organizations indicate that malnourished children in the famine-stricken Zamzam camp for war-displaced individuals in Sudan’s western Darfur region face a high risk of death. The blockade, enforced by a well-known paramilitary group, has severely limited the treatment of malnutrition.
Al-Harith Idriss further stated, “Regarding the issue of famine, if we are experiencing a fifth or even a hundredth phase of IPC famine, we are ready to work together with you and will ensure the smooth delivery of humanitarian assistance.”
The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is affecting over 25.6 million individuals, which is more than half of the country’s population, who are experiencing severe hunger.
The Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan this year is set at $2.7 billion, but it is less than one-third funded, having received only $872 million by early August, according to the United Nations.
