Five million people in Sudan suffer from emergency levels of hunger, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The acting representative of the World Health Organization in Sudan, Peter Graaff, said in a press conference that the ongoing conflict in the country for 10 months has dragged Sudan into a major humanitarian catastrophe.
He pointed out to the continued mass displacement of civilians as the conflict continues to spread to new areas, while Sudan is witnessing the largest internal displacement crisis in the world with 8 million people.
He explained that displaced people often find shelter in overcrowded areas, where there is no access to water, sanitation, food and basic health services.
He added that about 25 million people in Sudan need humanitarian aid, including 18 million people suffering from acute hunger, and 5 million suffering from hunger at the emergency level.
Millions of Sudanese are suffering from difficulties in securing food supplies and the availability of basic services, electricity and water, as a result of the ongoing fighting between warring generals since April 15, 2023, which has left more than 13,000 dead and more than 7 million displaced and refugees, according to the United Nations.
Causing 18 million people to suffer from acute hunger is a grave violation of basic human rights, of which the right to food is one of the most important rights, which requires an urgent international response to prevent the situation from deteriorating.
The right to food is guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The international community and humanitarian institutions must work together to provide the necessary food aid and support sustainable development programs that contribute to achieving food security in Sudan.
Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR UK) had called on the conflicting parties in Sudan to immediately stop the ongoing battles and seek a peaceful solution through a comprehensive national dialogue.
AOHR UK also called on the UN Security Council to take immediate action and call for a ceasefire to save innocent lives at risk.
