Geneva, Switzerland–Four months into Sudan’s conflict, the situation is spiraling out of control, with mass displacement and millions on the verge of famine, humanitarian organizations warned on Tuesday, urging immediate international action.
Since Sudan’s conflict erupted on April 15, the country has been plunged into a humanitarian crisis, with more than six million Sudanese people “one step away from famine”, the heads of 20 global humanitarian organizations pointed out in a statement.
“There is no excuse for waiting,” said the statement, signed by the heads of United Nations agencies, along with organizations including Save the Children and CARE.
The signatories called on the parties to the conflict to “end the fighting” and to “grant us safe and unfettered access”.
Darfur and the capital, Khartoum, have been plagued by four months of fighting between Sudan’s army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
“The situation is spiraling out of control,” the statement said, pointing out that more than 14 million children need humanitarian aid and over four million people have fled the fighting.
At the same time, they warned, “time is running out for farmers to plant the crops that will feed them and their neighbors”.
“Our humanitarian appeals can help some 19 million people in Sudan and neighboring countries. However, the two appeals are just over 27-percent funded,” they said.
“Please change that.”
The signatories assured the people of Sudan that their organizations would “continue to push for access to all people and in all areas of Sudan to bring humanitarian supplies and essential services”.