Juba, South Sudan-In the shadow of nearly a year of devastating conflict, Sudan finds itself grappling with one of the most severe humanitarian crises in recent history, a dire situation that has prompted a stark warning from the United Nations. The conflict, which erupted last April between the national army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), under the command of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has wrought widespread destruction, claiming tens of thousands of lives and pushing the nation to the brink of famine.
Edem Wosornu, the director of operations at the UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), articulated the grim reality facing Sudan during a presentation to the UN Security Council. "By all measures – the sheer scale of humanitarian needs, the numbers of people displaced and facing hunger – Sudan is one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory," Wosornu stated, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The ongoing conflict has uprooted over eight million people, compelling them to flee their homes in search of safety. Meanwhile, a staggering 18 million individuals are confronted with acute food insecurity, a figure that marks a significant increase from the previous year. Among those most vulnerable are approximately 730,000 Sudanese children, who are currently suffering from severe malnutrition.
Despite a call from the Security Council in early March for an immediate ceasefire during Ramadan and improved access to humanitarian aid, efforts to quell the fighting have been thwarted by the persistent discord between the warring factions. The consequence is a nation on the precipice of catastrophe, with nearly five million people at risk of falling into catastrophic food insecurity in the coming months, as warned by Martin Griffiths, the head of OCHA.
The urgency of the situation has been echoed by Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), who emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to avert what could become the world's largest hunger crisis. "If we are going to prevent Sudan from becoming the world's largest hunger crisis, coordinated efforts and joined-up diplomacy is urgent and critical," Skau remarked, highlighting the imminent risk of famine as the agricultural season approaches in May.
The human toll of the conflict is palpable among the displaced populations seeking refuge in neighboring countries such as South Sudan. In the transit camp located in the city of Renk, Nyakuoth Gadluak, a widow and mother, shared her struggle to provide for her children by selling tea. "The living conditions here are very difficult," Gadluak revealed, lamenting the challenges of supporting her family amid scarcity.
Malcolm Webb, reporting for Al Jazeera from the border camp in Renk, noted the acute hunger afflicting those arriving from parts of Sudan severed from food and essential supplies due to the ongoing conflict. The WFP's efforts to register new arrivals and manage the crisis are hindered by a shortage of funds, further exacerbating the dire circumstances faced by the displaced.
As the international community's attention remains elsewhere, the tragedy unfolding in Sudan continues unabated, leaving its people in a state of desperation and need. The call for action grows louder, urging the world to not turn a blind eye to a nation in distress.
