UN agencies sound alarm over worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan

In a joint statement, four United Nations agencies — the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UNICEF, and the World Food Programme (WFP) — have issued an urgent appeal for global attention to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan. More than 30 million people now require urgent humanitarian assistance, including 9.6 million who are displaced within the country and 15 million children, according to the statement.

The agencies noted that the conflict has decimated Sudan’s health and education systems, leaving 14 of the country’s 17 million school-aged children out of school. Hunger and disease are rampant, with malnutrition soaring and preventable illnesses spreading amid the collapse of critical infrastructure. After visiting Sudan, leaders from the four UN agencies described cities devastated by war. “This is one of the worst protection crises we’ve seen in decades,” said Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner at UNHCR. The agencies called for an immediate halt to hostilities, the protection of civilians, especially children, and full humanitarian access and UN presence across Sudan.

Since the war broke out, the conflict in Sudan has become one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Over 11 million has been displaced, millions of others face severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. Despite the devastating impact on ordinary people, the warring factions continue to fight for control, plunging much of the country into chaos and despair.

International efforts to bring about a ceasefire have largely failed. The ongoing violence has made it nearly impossible for humanitarian organizations to reach those most in need, worsening an already dire situation.

Cities such as Al-Fashir have been under siege and continuous attack for more than 500 days. Attempts to secure a humanitarian truce have not been successful. Residents trapped inside face extreme conditions, with little access to food, clean water, or medical care. Aid agencies have made urgent appeals for safe corridors and a halt to hostilities, but their calls have yet to result in meaningful action on the ground.

The latest appeals from humanitarian organizations add to a long list of unsuccessful efforts to ease Sudan’s suffering. As the conflict drags on, there remains no sign of an end to the fighting. The worsening spiral of violence and displacement has pushed Sudan to the brink, leaving the international community deeply concerned about the country’s future and the growing scale of its humanitarian catastrophe.