The WHO is once again sounding the alarm for Sudan. The head of the World Health Organization called Friday for urgent action to address the country’s worsening health and humanitarian crises, and asked the international community to increase financial assistance.
“Urgent action is needed to stop the worsening conflict in Sudan, where the humanitarian and health crises are worsening with the further displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, mainly women and children,” Tedros wrote on X Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Many displaced people
Since mid-April, the country has been experiencing a bloody war pitting the army against the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (FSR). Fleeing the fighting in Khartoum, more than half a million people took refuge further south, in the state of Al-Jazeera. But recently the RSF have advanced into this state and, attacking the town of Wad Madani on December 15, forced more than 300,000 people to flee again.
“While responding with its partners to acute health needs, in particular by controlling the spread of diseases and combating the threats of malnutrition, WHO is also calling for increased financial support from the international community to meet the urgent health needs of populations affected,” continued Dr. Tedros. “This includes strengthening the provision of basic health services to the most vulnerable in affected states, where at least 70% of health facilities are not functioning due to the conflict,” he added.
The UN estimates that at least 7.1 million people have been displaced since the start of the ongoing conflict, including 1.5 million who have sought refuge in neighboring countries. And more than 12,000 people were killed, according to a conservative estimate by the NGO Acled (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project).