A senior United Nations official has raised alarms about the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where a civil war has plunged approximately 30 million people—almost two-thirds of the population—into acute need of humanitarian assistance. Edem Wosornu, the director of operations and advocacy for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), shared her observations from recent visits to Sudan and Chad during a press briefing in New York.
Wosornu highlighted the severe conditions in North Darfur’s capital, El Fasher, which has endured a 500-day siege amidst a relentless cholera outbreak. This health crisis indiscriminately affects both civilians and combatants, exacerbating the area’s distress. Meanwhile, around 850,000 individuals have sought refuge in Chad due to the ongoing violence in Sudan.
The logistic challenges persist, with approximately 70 aid trucks from the World Food Programme, World Health Organization, and UNICEF waiting for access to El Fasher to deliver much-needed relief. Throughout the state, a staggering 680,000 people suffered extreme famine during the last lean season, illustrating the dire food insecurity the population faces.
While hostilities have decreased in Khartoum, Wosornu described the capital as a “ghost town” filled with explosive remnants, making life untenable. With a call for increased international support, she emphasized the necessity for continued aid delivery and future post-conflict recovery initiatives. “Our humanitarian partners are also saying that this needs to stop so we can continue to deliver assistance… Because after the war and everything has stopped, and when the guns are silenced, people still need recovery,” she stated.
The conflict, originating in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces along with associated militias, ranks among the most severe humanitarian emergencies globally. The war has been marked by widespread displacement, famine, and atrocities including reports of killings and child rapes. The comprehensive impact is further detailed in a report by JURIST.
Moreover, the UN has underscored a “gender emergency” due to the conflict’s disproportionate impact on women and girls, an issue corroborated by Amnesty International’s findings of gender-based violence by the militias involved. The cholera outbreak, persisting for more than a year with over 50,000 cases and at least 1,350 deaths, has further aggravated the humanitarian situation.
Efforts to address these multifaceted challenges remain ongoing as the UN and international community seek effective strategies to deliver relief and support the Sudanese people amid and beyond the immediate crisis.