The humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to cause deep concern within the international community. With the country in the grip of devastating conflict and a growing food crisis, UN agencies and Member States gathered at the UN General Assembly in New York issued a renewed call for swift action to ensure the safety of Sudanese citizens.
At the meeting, Joyce Msuya, Acting Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, urged Member States to use all their influence to end the crisis in Sudan. She stressed the need for Member States to support initiatives to increase the volume of humanitarian assistance and extend this vital support beyond the initial three-month period, without introducing new procedures that could undermine operations.
In the face of this emergency, a call has been made for a radical change in humanitarian access, to ensure the safe, rapid and effective delivery of aid by all possible means, whether by land or air, and to facilitate the daily work of humanitarian organizations on the ground.
On 25 September, on the sidelines of the high-level debate of the United Nations General Assembly, a high-level ministerial meeting was held, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations, to strengthen humanitarian assistance in Sudan and the region.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stressed the urgent need for parties to the conflict to establish humanitarian pauses in sensitive areas to allow the passage of aid and ensure a safe exit for civilians. She also announced an additional contribution of US$424 million for emergency humanitarian efforts in Sudan and neighboring countries.
The humanitarian crisis in Sudan has been ongoing for nearly eighteen months, with nearly half the population in need of humanitarian assistance and more than 10 million people forced to flee their homes, either within the country or to neighbouring countries. A severe food crisis is raging, affecting nearly 26 million people in acute food insecurity.
Famine conditions have been confirmed in northern Darfur, and the civilian population is suffering from serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Essential services have been severely disrupted, affecting the livelihoods of millions of people.
While the event is titled “The Cost of Inaction: Urgent and Collective Support to Scale Up the Humanitarian Response in Sudan and the Region,” Minata Samate Cessouma, Senior Official of the African Union, appealed to the parties to the conflict in Sudan, saying that there can be no winners in this war.
In short, the humanitarian situation in Sudan is critical, and swift and concerted action is essential to save lives, alleviate suffering and ensure a better future for the affected populations. The challenges are immense, but by joining forces and resources, the international community can make a difference and bring hope for peace and reconstruction to this region scarred by conflict and suffering.