UN Calls for Urgent Action to Address Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan
The conflict in Sudan has significantly deteriorated, with over 24 million people suffering from acute hunger and millions displaced as violence escalates. UN official Edem Wosornu urged the Security Council to act decisively to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access. The international community must mobilize substantial resources to address unprecedented humanitarian needs.
A senior official from the UN humanitarian affairs office has urged the Security Council to enhance civilian protection and ensure unrestricted humanitarian access as violent conflict between rival militaries in Sudan nears its second year. Edem Wosornu highlighted the spike in suffering across Sudan, stating, “Now more than ever, two years on, the people of Sudan need your action.”
The ongoing clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have left over 24.6 million individuals facing acute hunger and caused the displacement of more than 12 million people, including 3.4 million who have sought refuge in neighboring countries. Furthermore, crucial health services have deteriorated, educational opportunities for millions of children have vanished, and widespread sexual violence has been reported.
Wosornu expressed particular concern regarding North Darfur, specifically the Zamzam displacement camp and Khartoum, noting that civilians continue to endure assaults. Despite the Security Council’s adoption of Resolution 2739, which called for the RSF to cease its siege of El Fasher, violence toward civilians remains rampant. “Terrified civilians, including humanitarian workers, were unable to leave the area when the fighting was most intense,” she stated.
In addition to violence in North Darfur, there are reports indicating ongoing clashes in Khartoum, where verified incidents of summary executions have been documented. Furthermore, South Sudan faces rising tensions in the North Kordofan and South Kordofan states, endangering civilian lives and complicating humanitarian operations.
The UN launched the 2025 humanitarian response plans, aiming to address the needs of nearly 25 million individuals in Sudan and up to five million refugees in adjacent countries, necessitating a significant funding mobilization of $6 billion. Wosornu implored the international community, especially Security Council members, to take decisive actions to alleviate the crisis.
Wosornu summarized her call to action by stating three objectives: immediate implementation of international humanitarian laws, unrestricted access for humanitarian efforts, and the urgent need for robust international support to meet unprecedented humanitarian needs in Sudan. She articulated, “The scale of Sudan’s needs is unprecedented and requires an equally unprecedented mobilization of international support, including flexible funding.”
In summary, the situation in Sudan continues to worsen as conflict rages on, leading to staggering humanitarian crises including widespread hunger, displacement, and violence. Edem Wosornu’s call for urgent action from the Security Council underlines the need for enhanced civilian protection, humanitarian access, and extraordinary international support to address this dire circumstance. Immediate intervention and sustained efforts are critical to mitigating the ongoing suffering in Sudan.
Original Source: news.un.org
