The United Nations issued a grave warning Thursday regarding the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where millions are at risk from hunger, displacement, and disease outbreaks.
“We are witnessing a perfect storm for catastrophic loss of life in Sudan,” UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated during a briefing in New York.
Efforts to deliver aid are severely hindered by a significant funding gap, with only $1.3 billion of the $2.7 billion needed for 2024 having been secured so far. UN agencies, including the World Food Programme and UNICEF, are scrambling to provide critical support, aiming to reach millions with food aid and lifesaving nutrition for malnourished children.
More than 10 million people, half of them children, have been displaced by the conflict. While the UNHCR works to assist those fleeing to neighboring countries, insecurity, flooding, and underfunding continue to challenge relief operations. Inside Sudan, over 113 aid trucks have crossed the reopened Adré border from Chad, delivering much-needed supplies.
A high-level ministerial event scheduled for next Wednesday, co-hosted by OCHA, UNHCR, and several international partners, will address Sudan’s crisis and regional impact. UN officials also briefed the Security Council on the dire situation in El-Fasher, urging swift global action to prevent further tragedy.