The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a call on Friday for urgent action to address the escalating health and humanitarian crises in Sudan, urging the international community to increase financial aid.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated on the "X" platform, "Urgent action is needed to reverse Sudan’s worsening conflict amid the deepening humanitarian and health crises, with the fresh displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, mainly women and children.”
Tedros added, "While responding with partners to the acute health needs, including controlling disease spread and addressing malnutrition threats, WHO also calls for increased financial support from the international community to meet the pressing health needs of the affected populations.”
The UN official emphasized the need to strengthen the provision of basic healthcare services to the most vulnerable groups in the affected states, where at least 70% of healthcare facilities are out of service due to the conflict.
The Sudanese Ministry of Health had warned that the transfer of Rapid Support Forces military operations to Al-Jazirah State, which is considered a center for supplies and medical services, could lead to a health catastrophe that could claim thousands of lives.
The ministry reiterated its warning that fighting in Al-Jazirah State would exacerbate epidemics and increase their spread to the extent that it could cost hundreds of thousands of lives.
Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has witnessed a bloody war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.
Fleeing the fighting in Khartoum, more than half a million Sudanese sought refuge in Al-Jazirah State. However, the Rapid Support Forces recently advanced into this state, attacked the town of Wad Madani on December 15, and forced over 300,000 people to flee once again.
UN estimates indicate that at least 7.1 million people have been displaced since the beginning of the ongoing conflict, with 1.5 million of them seeking refuge in neighboring countries.
According to a cautious estimate by the non-governmental organization ACLED, more than 12,000 people have been killed in the war.
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