Sudan Faces Catastrophic Crisis, Warns UN Agency

Sudan is on the brink of a catastrophic “breaking point,” with tens of thousands of preventable deaths looming, Arab News reported yesterday citing the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The UN agency highlighted that ongoing famine and flooding are exacerbating the dire situation in a country already grappling with the world’s largest displacement crisis.

Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, the situation has deteriorated drastically. The IOM reports that over 10.7 million people are internally displaced, with many being uprooted multiple times. Additionally, 2.3 million have fled to neighboring countries.

Recent flooding has displaced more than 20,000 individuals across 11 states, damaging critical infrastructure and disrupting vital supply deliveries. In just the last two weeks, over 45,000 people have been displaced, with more than 38,000 seeking refuge outside Sudan.

The Zamzam camp near El-Fasher is facing famine conditions, and the IOM stresses that humanitarian access restrictions are severely hindering aid efforts. Urgent funding is needed to provide food, shelter, water, and health services to those in desperate need.