UN Urges $4.1 Billion in Aid for Sudan, Stresses Crisis Demands Global Attention

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The United Nations has issued an urgent appeal for $4.1 billion to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where a 10-month conflict has led to widespread displacement and suffering. According to UN agencies, this conflict has created one of the world’s largest displacement and protection crises.

Since the outbreak of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), half of Sudan’s population, totaling 25 million people, requires humanitarian assistance and protection. Additionally, more than 1.5 million individuals have fled across Sudan’s borders to seek refuge in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

Martin Griffiths, the UN aid chief, emphasized the urgent need for international attention and support for Sudan, stating that the country has often been forgotten by the international community.

In a joint appeal with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN called for $2.7 billion to provide humanitarian aid to 14.7 million people within Sudan. The UNHCR also requested an additional $1.4 billion to support nearly 2.7 million people in neighboring countries hosting large refugee populations.

Griffiths highlighted the severity of the crisis, describing it as a competition of suffering and emphasizing the dire need for immediate assistance. He pointed out that Sudan’s recent capture of Gezira state, a significant agricultural region and refuge for displaced people, has exacerbated the situation.

The conflict has resulted in acute food insecurity for nearly 18 million people, with widespread health concerns due to limited access to healthcare. Diseases such as cholera, measles, and malaria are rampant, and approximately 19 million children are out of school. Human rights violations, including indiscriminate shelling of residential areas and arbitrary detention of civilians, are widespread.

The World Food Programme (WFP) reported a doubling of the number of hungry people in Sudan over the past year, with reports of starvation-related deaths emerging. The WFP called on Sudan’s warring factions to ensure unimpeded delivery of relief aid.

Despite international efforts to forge a ceasefire, the conflict continues to escalate, with over 12,000 reported deaths and more than 10 million displaced individuals. The conflict originated from disagreements over merging the RSF into the SAF and transitioning towards elections following the ousting of former ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019.

Throughout the conflict, both the SAF and the RSF have faced accusations of war crimes, underscoring the urgent need for a peaceful resolution and sustained humanitarian assistance.