Sudan, South Sudan Face Interlinked Humanitarian Catastrophes

A confluence of conflict, economic collapse, and climate shocks has triggered a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale across Sudan and South Sudan, with millions of people on the brink of disaster, reliefweb reported yesterday.

In Sudan, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is struggling to cope with a surge in casualties amid escalating violence. The organization is supporting the last functional hospital in El Fasher, which has been repeatedly targeted, severely hampering its capacity to treat the wounded. Since May, MSF-supported hospitals have admitted over 2,500 wounded patients, including more than 370 fatalities. As civilians flee the fighting towards Zamzam camp, MSF is bracing for an influx of patients, despite limited resources.

The situation is further compounded by the crisis in neighboring South Sudan, where the UN warns of a “perfect storm” of food insecurity, climate change, and economic hardship. Over 9 million people (nearly 80% of the population), including millions of children at risk of malnutrition, require urgent assistance.

According to UN, a total of 7.1 million people is acutely food insecure, with 2.5 million children and women at risk of acute malnutrition. The conflict in Sudan has exacerbated the situation, with nearly 780,000 refugees pouring into South Sudan, many of whom are malnourished and in desperate need of support.