The UN urges the Security Council to improve civilian protection in Sudan as the conflict worsens. The humanitarian situation is dire, affecting millions with hunger, displacement, and violence. Recent analysis highlights the urgent need for humanitarian access and international support to address the unprecedented crisis. Three primary requests were made for immediate action and cooperation.
A senior United Nations aid official has urged the Security Council to enhance civilian protection in Sudan and ensure unimpeded humanitarian access as the violent conflict among rival militaries nears its second anniversary. Edem Wosornu, a representative from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), stated that the situation for Sudanese people has reached catastrophic levels, dramatically worsening over the past two years.
The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with over 24.6 million people facing acute hunger. Beyond the hunger crisis, more than 12 million individuals have been displaced, including 3.4 million who have sought refuge in other countries. Healthcare systems have collapsed nationwide, millions of children lack educational opportunities, and cases of sexual violence have become rampant.
Ms. Wosornu highlighted recent troubling incidents in North Darfur state and Khartoum, emphasizing the dire situation in the Zamzam displacement camp, where civilians continue to endure severe hardships. Eights months after the resolution demanding the RSF to cease hostilities in El Fasher, civilians remain under threat, and the conflict has significantly intensified in the Zamzam camp, prompting famine conditions and confirmed reports of heavy weapon usage.
Fierce combat is ongoing in Khartoum as well, with reports of summary executions of civilians in contested areas. The UN human rights office has expressed grave concern over the exceptional risks faced by local community responders and volunteers assisting those in need. Additionally, fighting has begun spreading into new regions of South Kordofan and North Kordofan provinces, further endangering civilians and complicating humanitarian efforts.
In recent weeks, shocking accounts of atrocities in White Nile state have surfaced, depicting waves of violent attacks resulting in numerous civilian casualties. To address this escalating humanitarian catastrophe, the UN recently launched its 2025 humanitarian response plans, calling for $6 billion to aid nearly 25 million individuals in Sudan and up to five million refugees in neighboring nations.
To mitigate the crisis, Ms. Wosornu urged Security Council members and influential member states to take immediate and decisive action. She specifically requested adherence to international humanitarian law to safeguard civilians and essential infrastructure. Furthermore, she emphasized the urgent need for genuine humanitarian access and an unprecedented mobilization of international support for Sudan’s dire needs.
In conclusion, the humanitarian crisis in Sudan is critical, with widespread hunger, displacement, and violence affecting millions. The international community must act swiftly to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian access, and provide substantial funding. The call for urgent action reflects the grave humanitarian implications of ongoing conflicts, underscoring the necessity for immediate and collaborative global responses to alleviate suffering among the Sudanese population.
Original Source: news.un.org
