UN Agencies Urge Immediate Global Action as Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis Deepens.
Over 30 million people in urgent need as conflict, hunger, and disease devastate the nation.
SUDAN:
Four leading United Nations agencies — the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UNICEF, and the World Food Programme (WFP) — have issued an urgent appeal for international action to address Sudan’s rapidly worsening humanitarian catastrophe.
After more than 900 days of brutal conflict, Sudan faces one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies. The prolonged fighting, widespread human rights violations, and the collapse of essential services have pushed millions to the brink of survival — with women and children bearing the greatest burden.
A Country on the Edge
According to the UN agencies, more than 30 million people now require humanitarian assistance across Sudan. The crisis includes over 9.6 million internally displaced people and nearly 15 million children in desperate need of support. Although about 2.6 million people have returned to their homes this year — including one million to Khartoum alone — most returnees have found their communities destroyed, with little access to food, water, or healthcare.
“This scale of return to Khartoum is both a sign of resilience and a warning,” said Ugochi Daniels, IOM’s Deputy Director General for Operations. “People are returning to a city still scarred by conflict, with damaged homes and broken services. Their determination is remarkable, but life remains incredibly fragile.”
Children Caught in Crisis
Sudan’s conflict has decimated education and healthcare systems. Fourteen out of seventeen million school-aged children are currently out of school, and famine conditions persist in parts of the country. Malnutrition rates continue to climb, placing thousands of children at imminent risk of death without urgent food and nutrition aid.
“Children are facing hunger, disease, and the collapse of essential services,” said Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director. “Families are showing extraordinary resilience, but the world must act now to match their resolve and prevent an even greater tragedy.”
Escalating Violence and Humanitarian Challenges
The UN agencies report widespread attacks on civilians, persistent insecurity, and bureaucratic barriers that severely hinder aid delivery. Access to many regions remains blocked, while cholera, dengue, and malaria continue to spread.
In Al Fasher, over 260,000 civilians, including 130,000 children, have been trapped under siege for more than 16 months, cut off from food, water, and medical assistance. Similar suffering is reported in the Kordofan states, where communities endure destroyed water systems and non-functioning health facilities as outbreaks of cholera and measles spread unchecked.
“This is one of the worst protection crises we’ve seen in decades,” said Kelly T. Clements, UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner. “Millions are displaced inside and outside the country, with returning families having almost no support. People are taking dangerous routes to survive — it’s a crisis that demands immediate, collective action.”
Funding Shortfalls Threaten Aid Operations
The 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan, estimated at US$4.2 billion, is critically underfunded — with only 25 percent of required resources secured. Despite these constraints, humanitarian agencies have reached 13.5 million people this year, including in some of the hardest-hit areas such as Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum, and Al Jazira. However, without additional funding, life-saving interventions risk being cut back.
“I saw a city devastated by war, where families returning home to Khartoum urgently need food, water, and basic services,” said Valerie Guarnieri, WFP Assistant Executive Director. “But I also saw determination and hope. People want to rebuild — and we must help them do so.”
A Collective Call to Action
The four UN agencies jointly appealed to the international community for:
An immediate cessation of hostilities and protection of civilians, especially children.
Unhindered humanitarian access across all affected areas and a stronger UN presence on the ground.
Simplified procedures for aid delivery and staff movement.
Urgent, flexible funding to sustain life-saving operations.
Support for durable solutions for displaced and returning populations.
Continued protection and assistance for nearly 900,000 refugees inside Sudan.
Reaffirming their commitment, IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF, and WFP emphasized that the humanitarian community remains ready to respond — but cannot do so alone.
“The resolve of families in Sudan must be matched by urgent global action,” the agencies said in a joint statement. “The world must step up now — before millions more lives are lost.”
