The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that approximately 11 million people in Sudan urgently require health assistance, with nearly 25 million in need of humanitarian aid. According to Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, the statistics coming out of Sudan are alarming, and any delay in addressing the crisis will result in further loss of life.
The situation is particularly dire for children under five, all of whom suffer from severe malnutrition. The conflict in the region has led to the shutdown of 70% of hospitals in the affected states, with the remaining hospitals overwhelmed by the influx of internally displaced persons seeking care. Currently, Sudan is experiencing the world’s largest crisis of child displacement, with approximately 3.6 million people forced to flee their homes, half of whom are children.
The rapid spread of cholera has further complicated the already dire humanitarian needs. Over 3 million people are at risk of infection. Dr. Al-Mandhari welcomed the commitment statement adopted by the conflict parties on November 7 in Jeddah to protect civilians, facilitate unhindered access to humanitarian aid, and establish a humanitarian forum for Sudan led by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. He stressed the immediate need to cease attacks on healthcare facilities, as these severely disrupt healthcare provision and exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation.
United Nations statistics indicate that the conflict in Sudan has resulted in at least 3,900 deaths and forced more than 4 million others to leave their homes, either to other states unaffected by violence or to other countries. This escalating crisis highlights the critical need for international attention and assistance to address the growing humanitarian and health challenges in Sudan.
