Christos Christou, the international president of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), called on United Nations agencies and international aid groups to intensify their efforts in Sudan, stating that the country faces one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent memory.
After 15 months of brutal conflict between Sudan’s regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), nearly one-third of the wounded are women or children under the age of 10, Christou told AFP. The war, which erupted in April 2023, has led to the shutdown of most aid operations in Sudan, with many organizations adopting a cautious approach amid ongoing conflict uncertainties.
Christou emphasized the critical need for humanitarian assistance as famine grips parts of the country and violence shows no signs of abating. He highlighted severe financial challenges faced by aid groups due to chronic underfunding, a situation termed “historically shameful” by UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths.
Operating conditions for humanitarian workers have become increasingly perilous, with both sides in the conflict accused of obstructing aid and attacking medical facilities. Christou cited numerous incidents of looting, harassment of medical staff, and deliberate targeting of hospitals, describing these attacks as intentional and demanding greater protection for medical personnel and facilities.
The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and massive displacement, with over 10.5 million internally displaced people in Sudan, facing acute food insecurity exacerbated by seasonal rains and flooding. MSF and other groups have observed increasing trends of severe malnutrition, particularly among children in displacement camps like Zamzam in North Darfur.
“This should worry all of us,” Christou emphasized, calling for a collective international response to prevent further deterioration of the crisis in Sudan.