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A senior United Nations official has warned that nearly 30 million people—approximately two-thirds of Sudan’s population—require urgent humanitarian assistance as the country’s civil war continues into its third year.
Speaking at a press briefing in New York, Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), shared findings from her recent visit to Sudan and neighboring Chad, where over 850,000 Sudanese have fled.
Wosornu highlighted the dire conditions in El Fasher, North Darfur’s capital, which has been under siege for 500 days and is experiencing a deadly cholera outbreak. She noted that 70 aid trucks from UN agencies remain stalled in South Darfur, unable to deliver life-saving supplies. An estimated 680,000 people across Sudan faced extreme famine during the recent lean season.
While fighting has subsided in Khartoum, Wosornu described the city as “a ghost town” marked by destruction and trauma. She called for increased international funding and access for humanitarian operations, emphasizing the need for long-term recovery support once the conflict ends.
The war, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, has led to mass displacement, famine, and widespread human rights violations. The UN has also raised alarms over a “gender emergency,” citing sexual violence against women and girls.
Sudan continues to battle a cholera outbreak, with over 50,000 confirmed cases and at least 1,350 deaths reported to date.
Excerpts from jurist.org article by Christine Savino | Cornell Law School, US
