The UN warns of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan amidst escalating violence.

On Friday, June 7th, UN humanitarians warned that the people of Sudan are enduring escalating violence and nearing famine UN humanitarians warned that the people of Sudan are enduring escalating violence and nearing famine. This alert follows an alleged attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the community of Wad Al-Noura in Aj Jazirah state, south of Khartoum, reportedly resulting in over 100 deaths, including at least 35 children.

During a briefing from Port Sudan, Mohamed Refaat, the Chief of Mission for the UN Migration Agency (IOM), highlighted "truly horrible reports of violent attacks and casualties." Both UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UNICEF head Catherine Russell condemned the attack.

In North Darfur's capital, El Fasher, approximately 800,000 people remain in danger as violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF intensifies. Refaat noted the area is “inaccessible” to the UN and called for unhindered delivery of supplies. He emphasized the skyrocketing costs of basic necessities like fuel and water, making them unaffordable.

Since the crisis began on April 15, 2023, internal displacement in Sudan has approached 10 million people, driven largely by severe food shortages. Refaat reported that 3.6 million children are severely malnourished and 18 million adults are experiencing extreme hunger.

In addition to the internally displaced, over two million people have fled Sudan for neighboring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt, often arriving in traumatized and fragile states. Refaat also warned of a three-fold increase in Sudanese individuals opting for dangerous migration routes through Libya, Tunisia, and eventually Europe.

According to Alpha Seydi Ba, the regional spokeswoman for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) for West and Central Africa, over 600,000 Sudanese have sought refuge in Chad since the crisis began, many of whom are children and women who have endured significant trauma. Prior to this crisis, Chad was already hosting more than 400,000 Sudanese refugees. Funding shortages have exacerbated the difficulty in meeting their basic needs.

The UNHCR’s response plan, which seeks $1.4 billion to support five neighboring countries hosting Sudanese refugees, is only nine percent funded. Similarly, the humanitarian response within Sudan is just 16 percent funded.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern over Sudan’s collapsing healthcare system. WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier noted that about 65% of the population lacks access to healthcare, with the system heavily dependent on facilities in Khartoum that have suffered significant damage. Only 25% of necessary medical supplies are available, and minimal functionality exists in remote areas.

Decreasing vaccination rates have led to a record number of measles cases in 2023, with expectations for 2024 to be worse. Additionally, there are rising cases of cholera, malaria, and dengue. Care for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and renal failure is severely lacking.