It has been nearly a year since violence erupted in Sudan during Ramadan on April 15, 2023, and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is urging the global community not to ignore the dire situation in the country. MSF International President Christos Christou expressed shock at the level of “international neglect” towards providing assistance to the people of Sudan.
Christou highlighted the urgent need for humanitarian aid in Sudan, where women are dying due to pregnancy complications, patients with chronic illnesses are running out of medication, and tens of thousands of people have lost their lives in the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The situation has led to a humanitarian crisis described by the UN as one of the worst in recent memory.
Despite the challenges, Christou remains hopeful that the obstacles to delivering aid in Sudan can be overcome. He emphasized the critical need for access to medical supplies and personnel in areas controlled by the RSF, where the blockade imposed by the Sudanese Armed Forces has severely limited the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
The MSF team raised concerns about the dwindling media attention on the crisis in Sudan, where millions of people are in need of humanitarian aid. The lack of access to affected areas and the internal displacement of millions of Sudanese have further exacerbated the situation.
Christou called for immediate action to scale up the humanitarian response in North Darfur, emphasizing the need for food distributions, healthcare services, and clean water to save lives. He urged the UN and other stakeholders to use their influence to ensure that parties to the conflict fulfill their obligations to provide assistance to those in need.
In conclusion, MSF is calling on the international community to prioritize the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and provide the necessary support to alleviate the suffering of millions of people affected by the conflict. The time to act is now.