SUDAN ON THE BRINK: AID AGENCIES ISSUE URGENT APPEAL AS HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE ESCALATES.
BY NJOKI KARANJA.
Sudan is teetering on the edge of total collapse as the country grapples with what has been described as one of the worst humanitarian crises in its modern history. As the war stretches into its second year, the Sudanese Agency for Relief and Humanitarian Operations (SARHO) has issued a desperate plea for international support, warning that immediate action is critical to prevent further catastrophe.
According to the appeal, more than 30.4 million people—over half of Sudan’s population—now require life-saving humanitarian assistance, with 16 million children among those affected. The crisis, which began in April 2023, has resulted in the displacement of over 12 million people, including 8.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and more than 3.2 million who have fled to neighboring countries, marking it as one of the largest global displacement crises in recent memory.
In Darfur, Kordofan, and territories controlled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), the situation is particularly dire. Famine has already been documented in parts of North Darfur, and millions more are reportedly on the brink of starvation as acute food insecurity continues to escalate. The breakdown of basic services—such as healthcare, education, and access to clean water—has left displaced populations and host communities in a state of desperation.
Children have borne the brunt of the conflict, with 24 million impacted and 17 million out of school, threatening to create a lost generation. Meanwhile, reports of gender-based violence have surged by 80%, with more than 12.2 million people—predominantly women and children—now at heightened risk.
Humanitarian workers have not been spared, with over 120 killed, injured, or abducted since the war began, underscoring the increasingly dangerous and unstable environment in which aid organizations are operating.
In North Darfur, particularly around Zamzam, Abu Shouk, and El Fasher, military operations and ethnic violence have triggered mass displacements. The Sudan Founding Coalition Forces (TSCF) have reportedly facilitated evacuations of tens of thousands to safer areas, where temporary shelter and basic aid are being provided. However, SARHO warns that local systems are overwhelmed and cannot cope with the scale of the crisis without significant international support.
“This is no longer a humanitarian emergency. It is a humanitarian catastrophe,” SARHO said in its appeal. “Every hour of inaction results in more hunger, more deaths, and more irreversible suffering.”
SARHO has called upon the United Nations, African Union, Arab League, international donors, and humanitarian organizations, as well as private sector and philanthropic actors, to respond urgently and comprehensively. The agency also urged the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to open humanitarian corridors, protect aid workers, and allow civilians to evacuate conflict zones.
“Sudan cannot wait. The displaced cannot wait. Darfur, Kordofan, and SPLM-N territories cannot wait,” the agency emphasized, warning that the window to avert total collapse is rapidly closing.
The plea comes as the international community faces mounting pressure to act decisively in one of the most underreported yet devastating crises unfolding in the world today.
