Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Author: Sohaib Satti
Country: Sudan
MSF. A view of the mother and child waiting area outside the MSF clinic in Zamzam camp
SUMMARY
Sudan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis due to over a year of conflict, displacing millions and leaving them in urgent need of aid. The healthcare system is largely non-functional, with only 20-30% of facilities operational and significant shortages in medical supplies. Humanitarian access is restricted by ongoing violence and government barriers, leading to obstructed and looted aid deliveries, especially in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The World Food Program is struggling with allegations of mismanagement and fuel shortages, contributing to widespread hunger and alarming malnutrition rates. Urgent international action is required to facilitate aid delivery and support humanitarian efforts.
BACKGROUND
Sudan is facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises in recent history. Over a year of devastating war has left millions of people displaced and in urgent need of food, healthcare, and basic necessities. Yet, delivering aid has become a monumental challenge due to various obstacles, from government-imposed restrictions to the widespread looting of aid supplies. Humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations (UN) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), have encountered immense difficulties in their efforts to help.
Sudan's healthcare system, already fragile before the war, has collapsed. Currently, only 20-30% of health facilities across the country remain functional, while the continued fighting exacerbates the challenges of delivering aid. In Khartoum, one of the hardest-hit cities, MSF teams have reported running out of essential surgical equipment. Medical services in the city are on the brink of shutting down completely as the ongoing siege has left health facilities severely damaged. Hospitals in Wad Madani, another affected area, are overwhelmed with patients injured by gunfire and shrapnel. These locations exemplify how humanitarian access has been blocked, leaving millions of people without critical services.
Obstacles to Aid Delivery
One of the most significant challenges in providing aid to Sudanese civilians is gaining access to war-torn regions. The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has created a dangerous environment for aid workers. Both the SAF and RSF control different regions, and both sides have been accused of obstructing the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
The Sudanese government has been systematically denying travel permits and withholding visas for humanitarian workers, especially in areas outside its control. In RSF-controlled territories, looting has been rampant. Health facilities and warehouses have been ransacked, and medical workers have been harassed. Even in regions like Darfur and Khartoum, where some international organizations maintain a presence, the scale of aid delivery remains limited in comparison to the overwhelming needs.
A Growing Hunger Crisis
In addition to the health crisis, Sudan is grappling with widespread hunger. The World Food Program (WFP) plays a critical role in providing food aid, but its efforts have been hampered by allegations of fraud and mismanagement. The WFP is under investigation by its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for concealing information about the Sudanese army's interference in aid deliveries. This has raised concerns about the integrity of WFP's operations, further complicating efforts to assist over 25 million people facing hunger in Sudan.
A recent incident involving the disappearance of over 200,000 liters of fuel from WFP's stores in Kosti has further exacerbated the situation. Fuel is crucial for delivering aid in a war zone, and its shortage poses a severe risk to ongoing efforts.
The lack of sufficient food aid has led to alarming levels of malnutrition. A rapid assessment conducted in January 2024 at Zamzam camp in North Darfur found that 23% of children were suffering from acute malnutrition, with 7% of cases classified as severe. Pregnant and breastfeeding women were also found to be severely malnourished, and the camp's mortality rate stood at a shocking 2.5 deaths per 10,000 people per day.
Safety Risks for Aid Workers
Humanitarian workers in Sudan face significant risks, including carjackings, armed attacks, and harassment, particularly in conflict zones such as Darfur. MSF teams in these areas have treated patients with trauma injuries, including gunshot wounds, shrapnel injuries, and burns. However, the scarcity of medical supplies and equipment makes it extremely difficult to provide life-saving care.
As the health system continues to deteriorate, access to even basic healthcare has become nearly impossible for civilians in conflict zones. Hospitals lack critical supplies, and transportation for aid deliveries is unreliable due to fuel shortages.
Calls for International Action
The international community must act swiftly to address Sudan’s worsening humanitarian crisis. MSF has called on the warring parties to respect International Humanitarian Law by allowing safe access for aid deliveries and protecting civilians. Humanitarian organizations like the UN must also scale up their efforts to ensure that aid reaches even the most remote and hard-to-reach areas.
Donor governments, particularly the U.S., a major supporter of the WFP, must ensure that aid organizations have the resources and oversight necessary to prevent corruption and mismanagement. The delivery of humanitarian aid in Sudan is a matter of life and death for millions of people, and without bold action from the international community and cooperation from the warring parties, the situation will only deteriorate further.
Conclusion
Sudan is experiencing a humanitarian crisis of unimaginable proportions. Without urgent intervention and cooperation from the warring factions, millions of civilians will continue to suffer. As the war drags on, the need for food, healthcare, and basic necessities grows more desperate by the day. Bold action from the international community is needed to ensure that humanitarian aid can be safely delivered to those in need and that the crisis does not spiral further out of control.
REFERENCES
1- MSF. (2024, April 15). *After a year of war in Sudan, a rapid scale up of response is needed to avoid catastrophe*. Médecins Sans Frontières. Retrieved from [MSF](https://www.msf.org)
2- Paravicini, G., & Michael, M. (2024, August 29). Exclusive: WFP launches probe into its Sudan operations as famine spreads. Reuters. Retrieved from [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/wfp-launches-probe-its-sudan-operations-famine-spreads-2024-08-29/)
3- Sky News Arabia. (2024, August 28) Hunger in Sudan: Investigation, accusations and cover-up of a suspected party. Skynewsarabia. Retrieved from [Sky News Arabia](https://www.skynewsarabia.com/middle-east/1738177)
5- UNHCR. (2023, June 27) UNHCR highlights difficulties in aid delivery amid escalating conflict in Sudan. From https://www.unhcr.org/
5- People Electronic Newspaper. (2023, October 10) Difficulty in delivering humanitarian aid in Sudan. From https://www.pen-news.net/t-en/
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