The United Nations urges the world not to forget Sudan amid the escalation of the crisis

In an interview with United Nations News, Clementine Nkotta -Salami, the resident coordinator of the United Nations and the Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, called on the international community to renew its support for millions of affected by this crisis.

She said: “People are in a desperate situation. We appeal to the international community not to forget Sudan, and not to forget men, women and children in Sudan who found themselves in this very difficult situation at this critical moment.”

Catastrophic

Since the outbreak of the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces on April 15, 2023, Sudan has witnessed unprecedented destruction. More than 12 million people have been displaced, making it the worst displacement crisis in the world.

Mrs. Nkoueta – Salami said that the humanitarian situation is catastrophic, stressing that after two years of conflict, “We were hoping that we had been able to provide humanitarian assistance comprehensively to everyone who needed it, but we are still struggling.”

The United Nations and its partners this year seek to raise $ 4.2 billion to provide support to about 30 million people across Sudan, but funding is still far from what is required.

The UN official said that some donors informed her office that they would reduce the available resources, expressing concern that human workers have not obtained the level of financing that enables them to meet the urgent needs of the population.

Amid the chaos that pervades the country, humanitarian workers continue to provide vital assistance, despite the severe restrictions on arrival, the continuation of violence, and logistical obstacles.

Mrs. Nkwita – Salami said: “We have no access to all hot areas, but we are doing our best to ensure that the resources we have are transported as quickly as possible using all available means.”

Famine is already present and spreads

The conflict had a particularly devastating effect in the Darfur region, where the UN coordinator confirmed that the city of El Fasher is still under siege. She said the civilian population “For several months, they are trapped, and they are facing daily bombing, displacement and a rapid deterioration in the humanitarian situation.”

She expressed her deep concern about the assertion of starvation in Zamzam camp, North Darfur, describing the situation there as a “disastrous”, Noting a severe lack of food, water and medical supplies. She said that the prices of basic commodities “It increased dramatically, making the necessary materials out of the reach of most families.”

Familiarity has been confirmed in the Zamzam camp, adjacent to Al -Fasher City in August 2023, and was reaffirmed again in December last year.

The UN official reminded that other areas such as Khartoum, Kordofan, and the Blue Nile are also at risk, and added: “We are working against time to try to prevent the spread of famine.”

Humanitarian efforts are continuing

Despite the absence of a political solution, Mrs. Nkoueta -Salami stressed that humanitarian action cannot wait, and stressed that in the absence of a ceasefire, “We continue to move forward with the humanitarian response.”

It also emphasized the urgent need for protection measures in light of the spread of gender -based violence and the fragility of the conditions of children. She added: “We continue to emphasize the need to protect civilians, in line with international humanitarian law and human rights law. This is something that we have not yet seen, and we are still demanding.”

The Humanitarian Coordinator reported that the arrival challenges are still a major obstacle. She emphasized that the United Nations and its partners are trying to deliver aid through the front lines and borders, stressing the need to maintain the largest possible number of these options, And ensuring that there are agreements with all armed groups so that we can connect aid widely and quickly to the areas affected by the severely affected. “

Providing aid in danger

Nkita – Salami indicated that the United Nations does not work alone, but rather cooperates with international NGOs and a large national network of NGOs – some of which are led by women. They described them as “the front lines”.

Despite the grave challenges and insecurity, human workers remain committed to work, according to the UN official, and said that they are “ready – and they have means and roads – to reach” even in places of conflict.

However, she confirmed that the price of this was extensive, and said that the number of humanitarian workers who lost their lives during the conflict was “unacceptable.” She added: “The humanitarian workers should not lose their lives while trying to provide support to the needy.”

As the humanitarian catastrophe exacerbated, Mrs. Nkoueta – Salami sent a clear and urgent message to the world, where she said: “We still need a tremendous effort. We still need support from the international community in terms of resources, and we still need more facilities from all armed groups participating in this conflict.”