The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has warned that the humanitarian crisis in Sudan is likely to worsen this year unless the international community takes resolute action to address the situation in the war-torn country.
The mid-year Criss Alert on Sudan released by IRC on Tuesday said all indications on Sudan “illustrate the trajectory of a country in freefall.”
“Without a shift in the international approach from inertia to action, Sudan risks being torn apart by the conflict, with dire implications for millions of civilians and regional security,” the charity said.
It said Sudan is already facing the twin crises of world’s most internally displaced persons and unprecedented hunger triggered a 14-month war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), over 10 million people have been internally displaced within Sudan since the clashes between SAF and RSF began in April 2023.
At least another two million others have fled to neighbouring countries, while half of Sudan’s population – some 25 million people – are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection.
The country is also facing extreme shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel and over 18 million people are facing acute food insecurity – more than five million of them at emergency levels.
The IRC alert blamed Sudanese military generals, regional powers and the international community of having “failed the people of Sudan, resulting in an ever-worsening humanitarian catastrophe.”
The report called for greater international push towards promoting peace in Sudan and an overall reset of the humanitarian response.
“Conservative estimates say that at least 15,500 people have already died from the conflict, while some estimates are as high as 150,000, and counting,” it said.
It added: “Over 222,000 children are predicted to die of starvation in the coming months if no quick action is taken.”
JN/APA