Starvation and Displacement Rampant in War-Stricken Sudan, WHO Chief Warns
GENEVA — The dire situation in war-torn Sudan has reached a critical point, with the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) painting a grim picture of widespread starvation and displacement during a recent visit to the country.
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the situation as “very alarming”, highlighting the massive displacement crisis that has now become the largest in the world, coupled with the looming threat of famine.
According to Dr. Tedros, over 12 million people have already been displaced in Sudan, with global attention towards the crisis remaining “really low” – a factor he believes is influenced by race.
The ongoing civil war in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the country’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has claimed thousands of lives and left a trail of destruction in its wake.
Dr. Tedros recounted his recent visits to a camp for internally displaced people and a hospital in Sudan, where he witnessed the devastating effects of the crisis first-hand, including malnourished children and widespread disease.
Nearly 25 million people in Sudan, half of the country’s population, are in urgent need of support, according to Dr. Tedros, who emphasized that the situation in Sudan and other recent conflicts in Africa are not receiving the attention they deserve.
Reflecting on his own experiences growing up in war-torn Ethiopia, Dr. Tedros expressed disappointment at the lack of global attention given to conflicts in Africa, noting the disparities in aid and media coverage compared to other regions.
Calling for increased focus on Sudan, Dr. Tedros described the situation as a “tragedy” that demands urgent action from the international community.
In August, a UN-backed committee declared a famine at a camp near the besieged city of el-Fasher in Darfur, underscoring the severity of the crisis in one of Sudan’s hardest-hit regions.
The conflict in Sudan, sparked by a coup in 2021, has escalated into a full-blown civil war, exacerbated by external support from countries like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Despite mediation efforts by various countries, including Saudi Arabia and the US, the conflict shows no signs of abating, leaving millions of Sudanese civilians trapped in a cycle of violence and despair. — BBC
