The UN has urged the Security Council to take immediate action to protect civilians in Sudan, where conflict has resulted in widespread hunger, displacement, and violence. A humanitarian plan seeking $6 billion aims to support millions affected by the crisis as the situation continues to worsen.
During a recent briefing to the United Nations Security Council, Edem Wosornu, a senior official from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), urged for stronger protective measures for civilians in Sudan amid escalating violence between rival military factions. With the conflict nearing the two-year mark, she emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian access to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.
Wosornu described the grim reality faced by the population, noting that over 24.6 million people are experiencing acute hunger due to the fierce struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Furthermore, the conflict has resulted in more than 12 million individuals being displaced, with 3.4 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries, leaving critical health services in ruins and millions of children without education.
She highlighted alarming developments particularly in North Darfur state, where civilians continue to be attacked, despite the Security Council’s Resolution 2739 (2024) mandating the cessation of hostilities. Reports of intensified violence around the Zamzam displacement camp, which houses hundreds of thousands facing famine, illustrate the dire conditions, with evidence of heavy weapon use and casualties among both civilians and humanitarian workers.
Wosornu raised concerns about ongoing violence in Khartoum, where UN human rights offices have documented summary executions of civilians amid fighting. She also reported a troubling expansion of conflict into previously stable areas, such as North Kordofan and South Kordofan states, complicating humanitarian operations and risking further civilian lives.
In response to the crisis, a new humanitarian plan has been launched, seeking $6 billion to assist nearly 25 million people in Sudan and about five million refugees in neighboring nations. Wosornu called upon the international community, particularly Security Council members, to act decisively to address the crisis and support the humanitarian response.
Wosornu issued three critical requests to the Security Council: to take swift action ensuring compliance with international humanitarian law, to guarantee unhindered access for humanitarian workers to deliver aid, and to mobilize unprecedented international support to meet the overwhelming needs in Sudan.
In summary, the ongoing conflict in Sudan has led to a humanitarian crisis impacting millions. The UN has called for urgent action to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access. With a significant funding shortfall, the international community must respond to the dire needs of the population affected by this conflict.
Original Source: news.un.org
