The World Health Organisation’s Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has sounded the alarm on Sudan’s looking famine, describing it as the “largest humanitarian crisis globally.”
“The country faces a devastating reality where millions lack access to basic medical care, and some regions teeter on the brink of famine,” he said.
Conflict, The Major Cause of Famine
Jerrymusa.com reports that in conflict-ravaged areas, over 70% of hospitals are non-functional, leaving people to die from lack of essential services and medicines.
“People are dying from lack of access to essential services and medicines, while there is a very real risk of mass starvation in some regions,” the WHO chief said.
The crisis escalated in April 2023 due to disagreements between the army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the head of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, over the formation of unified armed forces and leadership.
“The situation has been further exacerbated by the suspension of humanitarian aid, leaving vulnerable populations without access to crucial assistance,” Tedros added.
The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of injuries, with rival factions engaging in armed clashes in Merowe and Khartoum.
“The ongoing crisis has also raised concerns about the spread of diseases, with the WHO warning of a high risk of outbreaks due to the lack of access to healthcare services,” Tedros warned.