Sudan is now witnessing the world’s largest displacement crisis, with nearly 12 million people forced to flee their homes following two years of intense internal conflict. According to the United Nations, more than 3.8 million of those displaced have crossed into neighbouring countries.
The UN Secretary General António Guterres said over 30 million people across Sudan are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Of those, 25 million are facing acute hunger – representing more than half of the population. The crisis has been worsened by the collapse of essential services, severe food insecurity, and a lack of access to healthcare and education.
The UN report reveals that three-quarters of health facilities in the worst-affected regions are out of service. Millions of children have also been denied access to education; a violation of international agreements, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Despite the delivery of aid to 15.6 million people last year, Guterres stressed that the scale of need remains “immense”, calling for comprehensive and coordinated political action to prevent further deterioration.
“The political and military divide continues to deepen the tragedy, obstructing any chances of a peaceful resolution,” Guterres said. He urged the international community to step up efforts to protect civilians and support a credible transitional process to end the conflict and allow unhindered humanitarian access.
The crisis in Sudan has been described as a damning indictment of the global failure to protect civilians in armed conflicts, breaching key tenets of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions.
The mass displacement and deprivation of food, healthcare, and education also reflect systemic violations of basic human rights, including the right to life, dignity, and adequate living conditions.
As the situation deteriorates, the UN is calling on all regional and global actors to ramp up humanitarian and political efforts, provide sufficient funding, and ensure safe delivery of aid without interference from warring parties.
Guterres concluded by reaffirming the UN’s commitment to making Sudan a “top priority”, citing the ongoing efforts of his special envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, to coordinate international action and pursue a peaceful resolution.
