Agencies
February 28(Darfur 24) The United Nations warned on Thursday that Sudan is at risk of falling into the abyss, and the possibility of killing hundreds of thousands of its citizens, unless the devastating war in the country ends and aid flows.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, painted a bleak picture of Sudan, where famine has already spread, and millions have fled their homes, amidst violent fighting.
Türk told the UN Human Rights Council: “I cannot overstate the seriousness of the situation in Sudan, the painful ordeal that the Sudanese people are experiencing, and the urgent need for us to act to alleviate their suffering.” He added that “the devastating humanitarian crisis that began since the outbreak of armed conflict in 2023 has led to the largest humanitarian disaster in the world.”
“We are looking at the abyss,” the UN official continued, as humanitarian agencies warn that without action to end the war, provide emergency aid, and restore agriculture to normal, hundreds of thousands of people could die.
Speaking about the situation in Sudan, Türk explained that more than 600,000 Sudanese are on the brink of famine, with reports that famine has spread to five areas, including the Zamzam camp for displaced people in North Darfur. The charity Doctors Without Borders suspended its operations in and around Zamzam camp on Monday due to the escalation of violence, and the UN World Food Programme followed suit on Wednesday.
Türk said that five other areas could face famine in the next three months, while 17 other areas are at risk. He pointed out that an estimated 8.8 million people have been forced from their homes to camps and other locations within Sudan, while another 3.5 million have fled across the border.
The UN official stressed that “this is the largest displacement crisis in the world, and that some 30.4 million people need assistance, ranging from health care, to food, and other forms of humanitarian support, and less than 30 percent of hospitals and clinics are still functioning, and diseases are spreading in the camps for the displaced.”
Türk urged the international community to work together to find a way to achieve peace in Sudan.