Humanitarian situation in Sudan an absolute catastrophe, UN says

About 26 million people are experiencing acute hunger

A Sudanese refugee is screened for malnutrition at a camp in Adre, Chad. Getty Images

The humanitarian situation in Sudan is an absolute catastrophe, the UN said on Tuesday, as the country reels from almost 16 months of fighting between rival groups.

Speaking to the UN Security Council, Edem Wosornu, director of operations and advocacy division at the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said a staggering 26 million people are experiencing acute hunger.

“That’s the equivalent of New York City times three – full of starving families and malnourished children.”

Sudan is experiencing the world's worst humanitarian crisis in recent memory, according to the UN, as continuing clashes between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continue with no end in sight.

More than 10 million people have been displaced from their homes as the country edges closer to full-scale famine.

“Our worst fears were confirmed last week,” Ms Wosornu said. “The Famine Review Committee concluded that famine conditions are present in Zamzam camp, close to El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.”

The camp, home to about 500,000 people, is expected to face these dire conditions from August through October.

The report from the committee, released last Thursday, warned that famine is likely to persist from November to January 2025, driven by continuing conflict, restricted access and expected poor harvests.

Similar conditions are also believed to affect other sites in El Fasher, including the Abu Shouk and Al Salam camps.

Stephen Omollo, World Food Programme assistant executive director, emphasised the gravity of the situation.

“The World Food Programme and other humanitarian agencies have been warning for months of a widespread collapse in food security across the country,” Mr Omollo said.

In March, he said, the UN food agency reported that aid agencies were being obstructed from delivering food and essential supplies to significant areas of Sudan.

“But our warnings have not been heard. More than half of Sudan’s population is facing crisis levels of hunger, and the numbers continue to climb.”

On July 18, US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield urged the council to “consider all tools at its disposal, including authorising aid to move from critical crossings, like at the Adre border, into Sudan”.

The Adre border crossing between Chad and Sudan was closed in February by Sudanese forces.

Russia and some other countries, however, have emphasised that any humanitarian co-operation should be co-ordinated through channels agreed on with Sudanese authorities, insisting that they remain the sole entity responsible for distributing aid.

UK deputy ambassador James Kariuki blamed both warring parties for the humanitarian crisis.

“The Sudanese armed forces are obstructing aid delivery into Darfur, including by shutting the Adre crossing, the most direct route to deliver assistance at scale,” he said.

He added that the continuing assault on Darfur by the RSF has forced thousands to flee and created the conditions for starvation to spread.

“It does not need to be this way. The warring parties, and those with influence, can take immediate action to prevent further suffering.”

Mr Kariuki called on both sides to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access.

This includes, he said, opening the Adre crossing, lifting bureaucratic obstacles and taking measures to protect aid workers so they can deliver food to starving communities.

The UAE urged the global community to address the famine gripping parts of Sudan.

"The world cannot turn a blind eye to this unfolding tragedy," the UAE's mission to the UN said in statement on X, describing the crisis as "man-made, preventable and not yet beyond the point of intervention".

The UAE reiterated its call for a permanent ceasefire in Sudan and pressed the warring factions to allow full, rapid, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian aid throughout the country.

"The council must act and utilise all available tools to increase the flow of aid into Sudan," it said.