Sudan faces catastrophic famine and escalating violence, UN warns

Sudan is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster, with famine and escalating violence threatening to claim hundreds of thousands of lives, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has warned.

Speaking at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council on Thursday, Türk painted a grim picture of Sudan's deepening crisis, calling for urgent global intervention to prevent further atrocities, famine, and mass displacement.

"Sudan is a powder keg, on the verge of a further explosion into chaos, and at increasing risk of atrocity crimes and mass deaths from famine," Türk cautioned, stressing the need for immediate action to halt the suffering.

Famine has already taken hold in five regions, including North Darfur's Zamzam displacement camp, where the World Food Programme (WFP) was recently forced to suspend operations due to ongoing violence.

With only 30% of hospitals still functional, and disease outbreaks surging in overcrowded camps, millions of Sudanese are struggling to survive with little to no access to food, water, or medical care.

Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, nearly 8.8 million people have been displaced within Sudan, while 3.5 million have fled to neighbouring countries.

Families in displacement camps are barely surviving on food rations that are running out, while humanitarian agencies warn that without urgent intervention, starvation will kill thousands—if not more—in the coming months.

Türk highlighted the widespread human rights violations in the war-torn country, including sexual violence, the recruitment of child soldiers, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians.

"We need urgent action now, to find a path to peace," he urged, calling for an arms embargo and diplomatic pressure to push Sudan's warring parties toward a ceasefire.

The Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in a brutal war for nearly a year, leaving more than 20,000 people dead, according to the UN.

However, independent research from US universities suggests the true death toll could be as high as 130,000.

With no end in sight, the suffering in Sudan is only expected to worsen.

"They must also ensure compliance with the arms embargo on Darfur while considering its expansion to cover the whole country," Türk stated, urging global leaders to prioritise Sudan's humanitarian crisis before it spirals further into catastrophe.

For millions of Sudanese, the next few weeks could mean the difference between life and death. The world cannot afford to look away.

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