In a joint appeal to the United Nations (UN) and the global community, eight international humanitarian organisations have described the life of civilians caught in the ongoing 18-month Sudanese conflict as “hellish.”
The organisations, including the Norwegian and Danish Refugee Councils, CARE, GOAL, Plan International, Relief International, Save the Children, and Solidarity International, expressed concern that efforts to curb violence and alleviate the suffering of Sudanese people have been insufficient.
The humanitarian crisis in Sudan has worsened significantly, with the war now affecting 13 of the country’s 18 states.
Recent weeks have seen a dramatic escalation in conflict intensity, reaching the highest levels of violence since the fighting began in mid-April 2023.
This surge in violence coincides with a terrifying spread of infectious diseases and increased malnutrition rates among children.
As famine grips approximately 26 million people in the nation, about 34% of children are suffering from malnutrition or severe malnutrition.
As the war drags on, those trapped in conflict zones endure the constant sounds of gunfire and bombardment, facing illness with empty stomachs.
The organisations urge more robust international action to address this dire situation effectively.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), revealed that since the outbreak of civil war in Sudan in April of last year, approximately 680,000 refugees have crossed into Chad seeking safety and food. These refugees form part of the 3 million Sudanese who have fled their country due to the conflict.
In a recent statement, Tedros described meeting mothers carrying their children who had walked for days to reach the border. “They were hungry, exhausted, alone, and fearful. Their homes had been burned, crops destroyed, and livestock stolen,” he recounted.
Notably, nearly 70% of the refugees crossing from Sudan into Chad are children, many of whom are teenagers fleeing forced recruitment or arbitrary detention.
