Red Cross urges international aid as Sudan crisis deepens

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has issued an urgent appeal for greater international support for Sudan, highlighting that the nation is grappling with one of the world's largest yet most overlooked humanitarian crises. Derk Segaar, IFRC Special Envoy for Sudan, stated that escalating humanitarian needs are not being met by dwindling funding, which jeopardizes efforts to aid communities striving to recover from 1,200 days of conflict.

“

Sudan is one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, yet it is also one of its most overlooked.

Segaar described Sudan as devastated by war, particularly Khartoum, where millions endure unreliable electricity, clean water, and healthcare. Compounding the crisis are additional risks from cholera, malnutrition, and floods. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese military, has resulted in at least 59,000 deaths, though aid groups believe the actual toll is significantly higher. Currently, 35 million people require humanitarian assistance, over 9 million are internally displaced, and 4.5 million have fled the country.

Amidst the humanitarian plea, Sudanese Army Lieutenant-General Yasser al-Atta expressed confidence in the military's progress, stating they are advancing on all fronts with the objective of eliminating the RSF before the year's end. He vowed that "there will not be a single Janjaweed fighter" or foreign combatant remaining in Sudan by then. His remarks followed a recent army operation that seized key positions along a crucial road in North Kordofan, a region experiencing continued fighting.

“

We are implementing the theory of advancing in all directions, with all fronts moving simultaneously, as happened during the recapture of Khartoum state.

Meanwhile, the United Nations is intensifying diplomatic efforts to revive the stalled political process. Representatives from international organizations, including the African Union, IGAD, the European Union, and the League of Arab States, met with Sudanese political parties on Monday to facilitate discussions. The UN aims to build upon exploratory consultations to bring stability back to the war-torn nation.

“

Before the end of this year, there will not be a single Janjaweed fighter, or a foreign fighter, and we are determined to achieve that.