Senior UN officials: There is no solution in Sudan without stopping the war and ensuring that aid reaches those in need

These statements came during a joint video briefing to journalists in New York, today, Friday, following a field visit to Sudan in which Oguchi Daniels, Deputy Director-General for Operations at the International Organization for Migration participated; Valerie Guarnieri, Assistant Executive Director of the World Food Programme; Kelly Clements, Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees; and Ted Chaiban, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF.

Officials spoke about their observations in Darfur, Khartoum and Port Sudan, warning that Sudan is experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis and displacement in the world, and that millions of Sudanese are in urgent need of life-saving assistance.

Sudan is a top priority

Valerie Guarnieri, Assistant Executive Director of the World Food Programme, said that “Sudan is clearly a top priority for our organizations,” describing the situation as dangerous after famine was confirmed in parts of the country. She said that the World Food Program is working tirelessly to expand its operations amid enormous challenges.

Guarnieri said: “In recent months, WFP has reached more than 4 million people per month with urgent food and nutrition assistance – double the reach compared to last year,” she said, adding that “our team and partners have paid with their lives while providing assistance.”

She cautioned that Darfur remains a major concern, but through perseverance, the World Food Program is now consistently reaching two million people there. In areas threatened by famine, the Agency reached 1.8 million people – more than 85% of those facing famine conditions.

Guarnieri highlighted progress made through partnerships with the World Bank and the African Development Bank to restart social safety nets and help farmers grow wheat and sorghum to boost local food production. She praised the resilience of communities, noting that the most inspiring response to the crisis is led by the Sudanese people themselves.

She concluded her briefing by saying: “What Sudan needs now is an immediate end to hostilities, protection for civilians, unhindered humanitarian access, and urgent and flexible funding to scale up life-saving and life-changing interventions.”

Sudan is facing the largest protection crisis in the world

Kelly Clements, Deputy UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said that Sudan faces “the largest protection crisis in the world.” She said that her recent visit – which lasted five days to Port Sudan and Khartoum – aimed to highlight the protection crisis in Sudan.

Since April 2023, 12 million people have been displaced – one in three Sudanese. Clements recounted the devastating impact of the war, saying: “The horrific stories of rights violations, fear and complete destruction of infrastructure and services – and also the resilience of the people – will remain stuck in my mind.”

The UN official shared the story of the displaced Fatima, who fled El Fasher after her husband and son were killed, along with 18 members of her extended family. They walked for days without food before reaching safety. She told us that she finally felt safe in Port Sudan.

“The protection risks facing women and girls in this conflict are as frustrating as they are heartbreaking,” Clements warned. In the midst of widespread devastation, she said: “We cannot wait for long-term peace – development actors are needed now.”

She praised the Sudanese’s generosity towards 900,000 refugees, but warned of rising “anti-foreigner sentiment in Khartoum.” She made an appeal at the conclusion of her briefing, in which she said: “A political solution is absolutely necessary – they need peace, and they need it now.”

Children are paying the highest price in the escalating conflict

Ted Chaiban, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, described the situation in Sudan as catastrophic, saying that children are paying the highest price for the escalating conflict. He highlighted his visit to Darfur and Khartoum, saying: “Violence tears apart societies daily.”

Shiban recounted horrific scenes from El Fasher, where women and children fled siege, crossed armed checkpoints, and were “stripped of their property, molested, assaulted – and were left with nothing.”

He warned that 1.4 million children were living in famine or near-starvation conditions, and that “thousands would die without urgent treatment.”

In North Darfur alone, 150,000 children are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year. He said that 14 million children are out of school – that is, four out of every five children in Sudan. He warned that an entire generation is at risk.

Despite the despair, Shiban praised the resilience of Sudanese communities, saying: “I have also seen resilience – communities repairing schools, children laughing in child-friendly spaces, and UNICEF teams providing vaccines, mosquito nets and malnutrition treatment to millions.”

The need for a unified international response

Oguchi Daniels, Deputy Director-General for Operations at the International Organization for Migration She said that Sudan is facing the worst displacement crisis in the world, noting that it is not a coincidence that all four UN agencies were present in Sudan, stressing the need for an inter-agency approach as the Sudanese war enters its third year.

More than 30 million people in Sudan need humanitarian assistance, with 9.6 million internally displaced and 4.3 million having fled to neighboring countries. Daniels warned that the crisis is worsening due to food insecurity, disease outbreaks, floods, gross human rights violations, widespread damage to infrastructure, and the almost complete collapse of most basic services.

Despite this, she praised the resilience of the Sudanese people, noting that 2.6 million people have now returned to their homes, including one million people in Khartoum alone. Daniels highlighted recovery efforts such as the operation of a solar-powered water facility in an area affected by cholera, and upcoming projects with the African Development Bank to rehabilitate infrastructure in the states of Gezira, White Nile, River Nile and Sennar.

She concluded her briefing by saying: “The humanitarian needs in Sudan are dire. I reiterate the UN Secretary-General’s call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians, unhindered humanitarian access, and simplification of aid delivery procedures.”