Press Article: Urgent Call for Action Amid Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis
As armed conflict rages in Sudan, 20 months of violence between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Army (SAF) have caused catastrophic humanitarian consequences. With over 20,000 lives lost and half of the population—approximately 25 million—facing severe hunger, the plight of Sudanese civilians grows dire. Displacement has reached alarming levels, with 14 million people uprooted, while over 3.1 million have fled to neighboring countries like Chad and Egypt.
Children are among the most affected, with groups such as Doctors Without Borders reporting that one in six patients treated for war injuries at Bashair Teaching Hospital are aged 15 or younger. The harrowing case of an 18-month-old baby, Riyad, who suffered a gunshot wound while asleep, starkly illustrates the plight of innocent victims caught in the crossfire. Sexual violence is rampant, with both military factions committing atrocious acts, as outlined in a recent UN report that highlights the RSF’s predominant role in these abuses.
Despite initiatives led by international organizations, including the African Union and US-led efforts that have failed to secure a ceasefire, the humanitarian crisis deepens. The Sudanese government has consistently rejected calls for international peacekeeping interventions, framing them as violations of sovereignty, even as they fail to protect their own civilians.
The UN fact-finding mission urges an independent peacekeeping force to safeguard the beleaguered population, emphasizing the gravity of the situation as a compelling reason for outside intervention. The African Union must act decisively, balancing respect for sovereignty with the imperative to protect innocent lives as Sudan’s desperate humanitarian crisis continues unchecked.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
