UN says humanitarian situation in Al-Jazirah State “dire”

January 20, 2025 (NEW YORK) – A United Nations official on Monday described the humanitarian situation in Al-Jazirah State as dire, a week after the Sudanese army (SAF) took over its control.

Farhan Haq, the Secretary General’s Deputy Spokesman was briefing reporters in New York.

“The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that the humanitarian situation remains dire in Al-Jazirah State – which is about 200km south of Khartoum,” he said.

Haq said the World Food Program (WFP) delivered aid to the state capital, Wad Medani on Monday.

“Eleven trucks arrived with 260 metric tonnes of food and nutrition supplies – enough for more than 20,000 people,” he remarked.

According to the UN official, its humanitarian partners plan to carry out a needs assessment to inform broader response efforts in the city.

“They tell us that people in Wad Medani are grappling with shortages of food, water and health services, as well as severe malnutrition”, he noted.

The UN says immediate access to clean water remains critical, as most water stations are not functioning, forcing people to rely on unsafe water sources and raising health risks.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) says Wad Medani is among 17 areas at risk of famine in Sudan.

Meanwhile the UN humanitarian affairs agency (OCHA) reiterated calls for additional resources for the response and stressed the need for civilians to be protected, amid reports of shootings, movement restrictions, and gender-based violence in the area.

(ST)