Images of Sudan’s humanitarian crisis: A heartbreaking glimpse of the suffering and humanitarian emergency
The situation in Sudan continues to cause fear and concern, with heartbreaking reports highlighting the violence and looming threat of famine facing the population. The UN recently sounded the alarm following an attack in a village south of Khartoum that left more than 100 people dead, an event strongly condemned by the UN Secretary-General.
Testimonies from the village of Wad Al-Noura in Aj Jazirah state indicate horrific violence that resulted in a shocking number of victims, including at least 35 children. The attack was allegedly carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), prompting a reaction of condemnation from senior UN officials, including António Guterres and UNICEF’s Catherine Russell.
In another flashpoint of tension, the North Darfur capital, El Fasher, is the scene of intensified clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), putting some 800,000 civilians at risk. imminent. As the region is difficult to access for the UN, the delivery of humanitarian aid is hampered, leaving residents without essential resources such as water and fuel, which have become unaffordable due to soaring prices.
Sudan has had nearly 10 million internally displaced people since the start of the conflict in April 2023, with growing food insecurity pushing populations to flee. Nearly 18 million people suffer from hunger in the country, while 3.6 million children are affected by acute malnutrition.
At the same time, more than two million people have taken refuge in neighboring countries, mainly in Chad, South Sudan and Egypt, in conditions of great vulnerability and intense trauma. Thousands of families today find themselves trapped between the borders of Egypt, Libya and Sudan, facing precarious and uncertain living conditions.
The humanitarian response in these host countries and in Sudan itself remains largely underfunded, raising only nine percent of the funds needed to support these vulnerable populations. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of the collapse of the Sudanese health system, with 65 percent of the population deprived of access to essential care. The drop in vaccination rates due to the conflict has led to an increase in measles cases and raises fears of a worsening of the health situation for the year to come.
Other major challenges include rising cases of cholera, malaria and dengue fever, while people suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and kidney failure are deprived of treatment. adequate, thus accentuating the burden of the humanitarian crisis plaguing Sudan.
Faced with this humanitarian tragedy, it is imperative that international actors intensify their efforts to provide urgent aid to affected populations and support initiatives aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region. The urgency is palpable and action must be immediate to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe of even greater magnitude.