Sudan’s Warring Parties Escalate Humanitarian Crisis, Aid Officials Warn

The conflict in Sudan, which started in April 2023, has created a severe humanitarian crisis with an estimated 30 million people needing aid. Allegations of aid obstruction by warring parties have been highlighted by aid officials, emphasizing the dire situation including famine and rampant sexual violence against children. International responses and investigations are urgently required.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan, ignited in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has led to one of the largest humanitarian crises globally. Aid officials reported to the U.N. Security Council that the warring parties are obstructing aid deliveries and besieging towns, exacerbating the suffering of the civilian population. According to the United Nations, approximately 30 million individuals, nearly two-thirds of Sudan’s population, will require humanitarian assistance this year.

Christopher Lockyear, head of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), stated, “The Rapid Support Forces, the Sudanese Armed Forces, and other parties to the conflict are not only failing to protect civilians – they are actively compounding their suffering.” In contrast, the RSF has denied these allegations, attributing any obstruction of aid to rogue elements within the group and asserting their commitment to investigate these claims.

The Sudanese Armed Forces, represented by U.N. Ambassador Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed, rejected any assertions of blocking aid, claiming the government has a national plan in place for civilian protection. The ambassador remarked that Lockyear had not raised any concerns with him in their private discussions.

The humanitarian situation is dire, with famine impacting at least five areas in Sudan, affecting an estimated 1.3 million children under five years old. Catherine Russell, head of UNICEF, highlighted the extreme risks facing children, with over 3 million under five susceptible to fatal disease outbreaks due to a deteriorating health system.

Moreover, Russell reported that 2024 has seen hundreds of cases of sexual violence against children, with some as young as under one year old. “The data only gives us a glimpse into what we know is a far larger, more devastating crisis,” she emphasized, indicating the severity of the situation requiring urgent attention and support from the international community.

Lockyear detailed that MSF provided care to 385 survivors of sexual violence during 2024, with many victims, some under five, facing brutal assaults, often in fields. These alarming reports coincide with findings from a U.N. fact-finding mission that revealed astonishing levels of sexual abuse by the RSF and affiliated groups. The United States previously identified actions by the RSF and its allies as genocide against the Sudanese population.

In summary, the conflict in Sudan has resulted in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with millions requiring assistance and humanitarian aid being severely obstructed. Allegations of violence against civilians, particularly concerning sexual violence against children, underscore the gravity of this situation. International scrutiny and humanitarian intervention are increasingly necessary to address the immediate needs and protect vulnerable populations caught in this devastating crisis.

Original Source: www.usnews.com