UN urges action on war-ravaged Sudan

The United Nations and its partners are seeking $6 billion to help close to 26 million people affected by the war-ravaged Sudan ahead of the second anniversary of the conflict.

While launching the 2025 humanitarian and refugee response plans for Sudan on Monday, UN officials said the humanitarian response for Sudan aims to raise $4.2 billion to provide aid to 21 million people inside Sudan, while the regional refugee response plan seeks $1.8 billion to support 4.8 million Sudanese nationals being hosted as refugees in neighboring countries.

While speaking online from Geneva, Tom Fletcher, UN's emergency relief coordinator said after several years of conflict, Sudan's situation is a shocking humanitarian emergency that has been worsened by the spread of famine and fighting — which continues to kill and injure civilians and destroy hospitals, markets and other essential infrastructure.

Fletcher added that the plan launched on Monday is a lifeline to millions of Sudanese people. He urged the international community to help stop the fighting, provide the funding to deliver assistance and facilitate better access by land, sea and air to those who need help.

"Fighting in Sudan continues to kill and injure civilians and destroy hospitals, markets and other essential infrastructure. Nearly two-thirds of the population needs emergency aid, and the country is facing famine conditions. Refugees in dire need arrive in neighboring countries, where local resources are already stretched thin," Fletcher said.

Largest appeal

While recognizing that the amount being sought is the largest UN-coordinated appeal in Sudan's history, Fletcher said the crisis is unprecedented in its scale and gravity, and the UN has made a head start with over $300 million raised on Friday in Ethiopia during a high-level humanitarian conference on Sudan held on the sidelines of the African Union Summit.

While speaking at the conference, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pointed out the need to protect civilians and humanitarian workers, stating that rapid, safe, unhindered, and sustained humanitarian access must be facilitated in all areas of need. He also condemned the ongoing flow of external support for different factions in the conflict and the supply of weapons — which he said contributes to significant civilian destruction and bloodshed.

On Sunday, the African Union called on the warring parties in Sudan to enforce an immediate cease-fire and initiate a political transition as the conflict-induced humanitarian crisis continues to worsen.

Bankole Adeoye, the African Union commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, said the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan is cause for serious concern to the African Union which condemns all forms of violations, including grave violations against women and children.

The African Union suspended Sudan's membership in October 2021, two days after Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, president of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council and leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces, declared a state of emergency and dissolved the ruling council.

According to recent estimates by the UN, the conflict in Sudan has killed more than 28,000 people and displaced over 12 million.