Mon Sep 09 16:08:02 UTC 2024: ## WHO Head Warns of “Devastating” Crises in Sudan, Calls for Stronger International Response
**Port Sudan, Sudan** – The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, issued a stark warning on Sunday about the dire situation in war-torn Sudan, calling for a stronger international response to the ongoing crisis. Following visits to health facilities in the country, Dr. Ghebreyesus expressed shock at the scale of the emergency, citing the devastating impact of the civil war on the Sudanese people.
“I was shaken by the state of many of the tiny, wasted children,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said. “The scale of the emergency is shocking, as is the insufficient action being taken to curtail the conflict, and respond to the suffering it is causing.”
The civil war, which erupted in April 2023, has seen the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) clash with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has resulted in a death toll exceeding 20,000, a number Dr. Ghebreyesus believes to be an underestimate. Both sides have been accused of atrocities and obstructing international aid, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The country is facing a dire food security situation, with 25.6 million Sudanese expected to face high levels of food insecurity. Parts of Sudan are already experiencing famine, while others are at risk. Last week, three international humanitarian groups warned of a “hunger crisis of historic proportions.”
Despite the urgent warnings, the international community has been slow to act. While rich countries pledged $2.1 billion in support at a conference in Paris, only $1.1 billion has actually been received. This falls short of the $2.7 billion the UN had sought.
Beyond the famine threat, Sudan is experiencing the world’s worst displacement crisis, with over 10 million people internally displaced and 2 million having fled the country.
“The international community has seemingly forgotten about Sudan,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said. “They are paying little heed to the conflict tearing it apart, with repercussions in the region.”
Dr. Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for increased international support, stating that the situation in Sudan demands a stronger response. He described the ongoing crises as a “perfect storm,” highlighting the lack of international attention to Darfur, a region that experienced a brutal conflict in the 2000s.
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