GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Acting WHO Representative in Sudan Peter Graaff has said that the humanitarian and health crisis in the African country is alarming.
The conflict that started 10 months ago has spread to new areas, resulting in widespread displacement of civilians, some of whom have been forced to move multiple times.
Sudan is now facing the largest displacement crisis globally, with a staggering 8 million people displaced, including 6.1 million internally displaced individuals and 1.8 million refugees in neighboring countries.
The majority of those affected, including women and children, are compelled to embark on days-long journeys to escape violence, only to find themselves in overcrowded areas devoid of basic necessities like water, sanitation, food and healthcare.
Graaff said that 25 million Sudanese people are in dire need of humanitarian aid, with 18 million individuals experiencing acute hunger, including 5 million who have reached emergency levels of starvation.
The impending lean season poses a grave threat, potentially exacerbating hunger to catastrophic levels in the most affected regions. In Darfur alone, 200,000 children are expected to suffer from life-threatening hunger this year.
Hunger-stricken children are at heightened risk of death from diarrhea, measles and pneumonia, particularly in an environment with a scarcity of life-saving medical care.
The health system has suffered extensive damage and disruption, with child immunization programs collapsing and the prevalence of infectious diseases surging. Cholera, measles, dengue fever and malaria have afflicted the population, with reported cases exceeding 10,000, 5,000, 8,000, and 1.2 million, respectively.
Food insecurity persists, compounded by bureaucratic hurdles hindering the delivery of essential humanitarian aid. The people of Sudan face perilous circumstances due to ongoing violence, insecurity and the lack of a visible political solution.
Reaching health supplies and humanitarian assistance has become increasingly challenging, particularly in areas such as Wad Madani, Darfur and Kordofan, where the need is most urgent.
WHO is expanding its efforts on the ground, including cross-border operations, to address health emergencies, combat disease outbreaks and provide life-saving medical supplies and equipment.