Sudan's Unfolding Humanitarian Catastrophe: Millions Displaced, Famine Looms

Sudan is facing a devastating humanitarian crisis, with over 25 million people in urgent need of assistance as the country's civil war rages on. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, has killed tens of thousands and unleashed widespread destruction across the nation.

The scale of the disaster is staggering. Nearly 8.5 million people have been forced from their homes, with over half of them being children. Many have fled to neighboring countries like South Sudan and Chad, which are struggling to cope with the influx of refugees on top of their own humanitarian emergencies. Inside Sudan, 6.6 million people are internally displaced, leading to rampant food insecurity and increased risks for women and girls.

Famine now looms large, with 5 million Sudanese just one step away from starvation and 18 million facing acute food insecurity. The fighting has disrupted harvests and sent food prices soaring. The healthcare system has largely collapsed, with only 20-30% of health facilities remaining functional. Outbreaks of diseases like measles, malaria, dengue fever, and cholera have been reported.

Why this matters: The crisis in Sudan threatens to destabilize the entire region and exacerbate existing humanitarian emergencies in neighboring countries. The international community's slow and inadequate response risks allowing the situation to spiral further out of control, with catastrophic consequences for millions of lives.

Despite the urgent need, the humanitarian response has been severely underfunded. Before the recent aid conference in Paris, only 6% of the UN's $2.7 billion appeal for Sudan had been covered. While the conference mobilized €2 billion in aid pledges, UN officials warn that much more is needed to avert a calamity. "The world is forgetting about the people of Sudan," UN Secretary-General António Guterres cautioned, calling for a concerted global push for peace.

The roots of the conflict lie in a power struggle between the military leaders of the SAF and RSF, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, who had previously worked together to overthrow Sudan's civilian government. Authoritarian powers like the UAE, Russia, and Egypt have become deeply involved, providing support to the warring factions, while efforts by democratic actors to mediate a peaceful resolution have been limited.

The international community must act urgently to secure unimpeded humanitarian access, ensure protection for civilians, and push for a comprehensive peace process that includes the voices of Sudan's women and youth. "Unfettered access to deliver humanitarian aid and a sharp increase in funds for the humanitarian response are essential," the heads of UNHCR, OCHA, WFP, and UNICEF stressed in a joint statement. Without a major surge in aid and diplomacy to end the fighting, UN officials warn, Sudan's crisis risks becoming an even larger catastrophe with grave regional implications.

Key Takeaways

• Sudan faces a devastating humanitarian crisis with 25M in urgent need of aid.
• 8.5M people displaced, 6.6M internally, leading to food insecurity and health crises.
• Famine looms with 5M at risk of starvation and 18M facing acute food insecurity.
• Slow international response risks further destabilization and catastrophic consequences.
• Urgent need for humanitarian access, civilian protection, and comprehensive peace process.