GENEVA: With Sudan’s conflict entering its fourth month, a dire humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding, characterized by widespread displacement, the looming specter of famine, and reports of arbitrary violence and sexual abuse. In a unified plea, 20 global humanitarian organizations, including prominent United Nations agencies, Save the Children, and CARE, issued a stark warning on Tuesday, urgently calling for immediate international intervention.
Since the eruption of conflict on April 15, Sudan has plunged into a humanitarian abyss, leaving millions on the brink of famine. A joint statement by the signatories underscored that “over six million Sudanese people are one step away from famine.” The situation, they emphasized, is deteriorating rapidly, and the consequences are already devastating.
Highlighting the dire conditions, the statement noted that more than 14 million children require humanitarian assistance, and over four million individuals have fled their homes, either within the conflict-ravaged nation or as refugees to neighboring countries. A critical concern raised by the agencies is the rapidly closing window for farmers to plant crops essential for their survival and that of their communities.
Inadequate Global Response to Sudan Crisis
The humanitarian organizations denounced the inadequate global response to the crisis, decrying the fact that two appeals for aid to assist approximately 19 million Sudanese have been funded at just over 27 percent. They emphatically called for an immediate shift in this trend, urging the international community to take swift action to avert a catastrophe of unprecedented proportions.
The United Nations has reported receiving only a quarter of the $2.57 billion requested to aid people within Sudan and just 31 percent of the $566 million sought to aid refugees in neighboring countries.
“We have no excuse for waiting,” the joint statement stressed, advocating for an immediate cessation of hostilities and demanding unrestricted access to deliver crucial humanitarian assistance. The agencies also emphasized their commitment to advocating for unhindered access to all areas of Sudan to provide vital services and supplies.
Atrocities Against Civilians in Sudan
The signatories also expressed grave concern over reports of atrocities against civilians, including the looting of humanitarian supplies, attacks on aid workers, and the targeting of vital infrastructure, such as hospitals. These acts, the organizations warned, could potentially constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has reported that over 4,000 people have been killed in the ongoing conflict, including humanitarian and health workers, as well as children. Particularly alarming is the surge in sexual violence, with an increase of more than 900 percent in gender-based violence in conflict zones. Women and girls have been disproportionately affected, facing significant risks and limited access to care and assistance.
