Sudan, a country ravaged by conflict and political unrest, is grappling with a deepening humanitarian crisis. Ongoing armed clashes have resulted in devastating consequences, leaving millions of people in desperate need of assistance and despite efforts to establish ceasefire agreements, the violence persists, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation.
What is happening?
In April 2023, violent clashes broke out between two factions, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), loyal to Sudan’s de-facto ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The armed conflict is set against a backdrop of years of political instability, inter-communal tensions, and a prolonged economic crisis which left 15 million of the population facing acute food insecurity and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Since the start of the conflict on the 15th of April, at least 780 people have reportedly been killed and over 5800 injured across the country. 24.7 million people – representing more than half of Sudan’s population – now require humanitarian assistance, including 13.6 million children, the highest number ever recorded in the country.
Humanitarian needs increased
Sudan has long grappled with internal displacement, and even before the recent conflict, the country was already hosting 3.7 million internally displaced people and 1.1 million refugees and asylum seekers – one of the largest refugee populations on the continent. The escalation of violence is now leading to a widespread surge in forced displacement, exacerbating the ongoing displacement crisis.
Since mid-April, over 1.6 million people have been internally displaced, while an additional 482 707 have fled Sudan or returned to their countries of origin. The displacement of such large numbers not only disrupts the lives of these individuals but also strains resources and infrastructure in the host communities.
The ongoing violence has not only resulted in loss of life and mass displacement but has also caused significant damage to critical infrastructure, severely hampering the delivery of essential healthcare services. Power shortages, limited medical supplies, and damaged infrastructure, particularly in and around the capital Khartoum, have left tens of millions without access to clean water and proper medical care.
The rising costs of food, fuel, and other essential goods further exacerbate the already alarming levels of food insecurity, which is projected to affect an estimated 19 million people in the next three to six months, and the suspension of nutrition services in conflict-affected areas also endangers the lives of hundreds of thousands of malnourished children.
A vicious cycle
As Sudan is now facing the rainy season, which usually lasts from June to October, additional challenges loom large, with limited access to clean water and inadequate waste management in conflict-ridden areas increase the risk of water-borne and vector-borne diseases.
The fragile healthcare system, widespread displacement, and damaged infrastructure heighten the threat of disease outbreaks, and the vicious cycle of protracted humanitarian crises, recurrent conflicts, mass displacements, disease outbreaks, and the lack of basic services and goods will have devastating and long-lasting effects on Sudan and its population.
MOAS’ Sudan Humanitarian Aid Delivery Project
To address this dire situation in the country, MOAS launched the Sudan Humanitarian Aid Delivery Project, to procure and deliver therapeutic food and vital medical supplies tailored to the specific needs of affected communities in the country. Particularly, our aim is to provide specifically formulated nutritional supplement to combat malnutrition in children.
By alleviating the far-reaching repercussions of this catastrophic conflict and addressing critical medical and nutritional needs, MOAS strives to provide essential assistance to the vulnerable populations in Sudan.
We need your support to be able to deliver this life-saving assistance to affected communities in Sudan. Together, we can make a substantial impact on the lives of thousands of people affected by this humanitarian crisis.
Give what you can now: https://www.moas.eu/donate-moas-sudan/
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