Famine, Disease Threaten “Countless” Lives in War-Torn Sudan: UN Agencies

The United Nations has issued a dire warning, stating that famine and disease threaten to cause “countless” deaths in Sudan unless immediate action is taken. The country is grappling with the devastating consequences of an 18-month-long war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has left millions in desperate need of food, healthcare, and shelter.

Officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the “immense challenges” faced by aid workers on Tuesday. They emphasized the urgent need for intervention, stating that “malnourished children and mothers are dying due to lack of access to care, and cholera is spreading in many parts of the country.”

“Without immediate intervention, famine and disease will claim countless more lives,” said Hanan Balkhy, WHO’s regional director, at a media briefing in Cairo.

The conflict, which has killed an estimated 20,000 people and displaced over 10 million, has drawn less international attention than the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The United States announced new sanctions against Algoney Hamdan Dagalo Musa, the brother of RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, accusing him of fueling the conflict. However, the US has so far resisted calls to sanction Hemedti directly.

The situation in Sudan is dire. Over 25 million people – more than half the population – require food and healthcare. The country’s health system is in “freefall,” with 75% of health facilities in the capital, Khartoum, non-functional. The situation in western Darfur states is even worse, according to WHO.

Cholera cases have surged in recent weeks, with the Ministry of Health reporting 21,288 cases and 626 deaths since July. The disease is spreading rapidly in areas devastated by heavy rainfall and floods, particularly in the east, where millions of displaced people are seeking shelter.

The UN is calling for urgent action to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan.