A senior United Nations official has urged the global community to focus on what he described as 'the forgotten crisis' in Sudan. The country has been embroiled in a devastating war for over a year and a half, pushing it to the brink of famine.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has resulted in more than 14 million people being displaced from their homes, making Sudan the site of the world's largest displacement crisis. Additionally, 8.5 million people are facing emergency levels of food insecurity, with 775,000 others experiencing famine-like conditions.
The war in Sudan has claimed over 24,000 lives so far, according to a group monitoring the conflict. The violence escalated following a pro-democracy uprising that led to the ouster of former dictator Omar al-Bashir.
Recent reports indicate that RSF fighters have been carrying out brutal attacks in various regions, resulting in the deaths of dozens of civilians and the displacement of thousands more. The conflict has been marked by atrocities such as mass rape and ethnically motivated killings, with the United Nations and international rights groups condemning these acts as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The situation in Sudan has been exacerbated by the looming threat of famine, with experts warning that over half of the country's population, approximately 25.6 million people, are expected to face acute hunger this year. The crisis has particularly impacted regions like Darfur, where the RSF has been accused of carrying out a bitter onslaught.
Despite the severity of the situation, the UN official emphasized that Sudan's crisis has been overshadowed by other conflicts in the Middle East. He called for increased global attention and assistance to address the urgent humanitarian needs in Sudan.
