Aid Workers Describe “Nightmare” in Sudan, Appeal for Humanitarian Access
Conflict Escalates Malnutrition Crisis, Worsening Food Insecurity
Aid workers with medical charity MSF described the “nightmare” facing the people of Sudan and appealed for the warring sides to allow humanitarian access as the civil war leads to soaring malnutrition.
The conflict between Sudanese paramilitary chief Mohamed Hamdan Daglo’s Rapid Support Forces, known as the RSF, and the regular military led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has killed tens of thousands of people since it began in April last year, unleashing the world’s largest displacement crisis.
Access to the conflict zones is extremely limited, with Doctors Without Borders, which is known by its French acronym MSF, among the few international bodies still operating on the ground.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsening
MSF said at a briefing in Nairobi that 26 million people, or about half the population, face severe food insecurity.
“We’re not talking about an emergency anymore. We’re talking about a nightmare,” said MSF coordinator Claire San Filippo, describing the malnutrition crisis as “terrifying.”
Recently back from Chad, San Filippo recalled meeting a mother of three who fled the violence in the Sudanese city of El-Fasher in Darfur, which has endured intense paramilitary attacks in recent weeks.
“She told me war is everywhere. Everywhere there are killings. Everywhere there are bombings, shootings,” San Filippo said.
‘What she described is a nightmare. It’s simply hell,” said San Filippo, detailing how many of the refugees were women and children — most of whom had suffered from a dire lack of food, water and basic health care.
‘She told me that people are simply dying everywhere.”
Malnutrition Crisis Worsening
San Filippo said MSF recorded acute malnutrition in 32% of people in Zamzam Camp in North Darfur and Nyala in South Darfur.
Blockades Impede Humanitarian Efforts
Blockades forced MSF to make the “heartbreaking” decision to stop nutrition activities in Zamzam camp, where famine has been declared, San Filippo said.
‘As supplies run low, we had no other choice than to stop care for 5,000 children,” she said.
Health Care Facilities Under Pressure
Beyond the blockades, she described how health care facilities supported by MSF in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, and in El-Fasher had been “looted, occupied, shelled on multiple occasions.”
Medical workers have been harassed and assaulted, she said, with front lines perilously close to the medical facilities still functioning.
‘I woke up at about three, four o’clock in the morning to the sound of heavy machine gunfire,” said Lisa Searle, a doctor who spent four months working in Khartoum.
‘This new wave of violence has really … shocked an already traumatized population,” she said.
She emphasized the toll on her Sudanese colleagues: “They’re facing the same trauma that the people that they’re helping are facing.”
Conclusion
The conflict in Sudan has led to a worsening humanitarian crisis, with aid workers describing the situation as a “nightmare”. The blockades and violence have made it difficult for aid organizations to operate, and the people of Sudan are facing a severe food insecurity crisis. It is essential that the warring sides allow humanitarian access to ensure that those in need receive the necessary aid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the current situation in Sudan?
A: The situation in Sudan is dire, with a worsening humanitarian crisis and widespread displacement.
Q: What is the cause of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan?
A: The conflict between the government and the opposition forces has led to a humanitarian crisis, with reports of widespread human rights abuses, looting, and shelling.
Q: What is being done to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan?
A: Aid organizations, such as Doctors Without Borders, are working to provide medical care, food, and shelter to those affected by the conflict. However, access to the conflict zones is extremely limited, making it difficult to deliver aid to those in need.
Q: What is the impact on the people of Sudan?
A: The people of Sudan are facing a severe food insecurity crisis, with reports of widespread malnutrition, and many have been displaced, forced to flee their homes, and are struggling to access basic necessities such as food, water, and health care.