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Sudan Tribune

Plural news and views on Sudan

Sudan Tribune

Plural news and views on Sudan

Humanitarian

UN calls for urgent action amid worsening situation in Sudan

On May 1, 2023, civilians who escaped the conflict-ridden Sudan sought refuge at the UNHCR transit center located in Renk, near the border crossing point in Renk County, Upper Nile State. (Reuters)

On May 1, 2023, civilians who escaped the conflict-ridden Sudan sought refuge at the UNHCR transit center located in Renk, near the border crossing point in Renk County, Upper Nile State. (Reuters photo)

September 18, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The situation in Sudan will get immeasurably worse unless urgent action is taken, the UN humanitarian body (OCHA) warned.

Five months of brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, have fueled a humanitarian crisis of epic and tragic proportions.

The fighting, OCHA said, has displaced more than 5.25 million people inside and outside the country since clashes erupted between rival miliary forces on 15 April.

This, according to the UN humanitarian agency, includes more than 1 million people who have fled across Sudan’s borders to the neighbouring countries.

“This devastating conflict – coupled with hunger, disease, displacement and destruction of livelihoods – threatens to consume the entire country,” it stated.

Nearly 25 million people or roughly half of Sudan’s population, are now vulnerable and need humanitarian assistance and protection through the end of 2023.

“Humanitarian partners are urging member states and donors to expedite the disbursement of resources that are urgently needed to assist more than 18 million people in most need in Sudan,” OCHA observed.

Meanwhile, the revised 2023 Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan is reportedly only 27% funded as of 13 September, and while donors have generously provided $686 million since the beginning of the year.

This, OCHA stressed, means that partners are finding it difficult to scale up the much-needed response, with life-saving programmes and services being curtailed, scaled back or unable to meet surging needs.

So far, of the 18.1 million people targeted for humanitarian assistance, 3.2 million people have received food, shelter, health, nutrition, protection and other assistance and services, it further noted in its September 19 humanitarian update.

However, according to the humanitarian agency, the longer the conflict continues and low funding levels persist, the more devastating the impact.

“This means more people running out of food and hundreds of thousands of children severely malnourished and at imminent risk of death if left untreated,” it said.

At least 20.3 million people across Sudan are acutely food insecure and need food and livelihood assistance between July and September 2023, according to the latest integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) on the war-torn nation.

(ST)

 

 

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