Aid workers are raising urgent concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan, highlighting severe challenges faced by affected populations amid ongoing conflict.
The Darfur region of Sudan has been plagued by war and conditions similar to famine, prompting aid workers assisting refugees who have escaped to Chad from sounding an alarm about the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
Last week, Tammam Aloudat spoke about the starvation crisis in South Darfur after returning from a mission to Niyala. He is employed by Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
Aloudat stated that there were children who appeared to be between four and five months old despite being over one year old, at the therapeutic feeding center where we take in malnourished kids.
He added, “I want to address severe malnutrition pockets that cannot be resolved independently. To provide context, many children halt their food intake once they experience malnourishment despite the availability of some food.”
Aloudat expressed his hope that the reopening of Adre border crossing by authorities this week would facilitate U.N. aid distribution to badly affected regions; however, he acknowledged the presence of various obstacles.
According to him, the key bridge in South Darfur had collapsed due to recent rains which have made it extremely difficult for significant aid quantities to reach that region.
Authorities and residents reported on Saturday that members of Sudan’s paramilitary unit, the Rapid Support Forces, caused havoc in a central village by burning homes, looting property, and murdering at least 85 people – including innocent women and children. This is just one example of the ongoing atrocities taking place throughout the country during its devastating 18-month conflict.
According to a statement from Sudan’s Foreign Ministry, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces launched an assault on Galgani in Sennar late last month. Recently, RSF soldiers fired upon unarmed villagers without discrimination when they resisted attempts to abduct and sexually abuse females.
The ministry reported that over 150 villagers sustained injuries.
Since the eruption of open fighting between Sudan’s military and the group in Khartoum and other areas last April, the RSF has faced repeated allegations of committing massacres, rapes, and numerous outright human rights abuses across the country.
Accusations of attacking civilians and obstructing aid have been exchanged by both sides since the onset of the country’s war in April 2023.
Last year, the country became engulfed in turmoil as skirmishes that originated between military and RSF forces ultimately erupted into full-blown violence throughout Sudan including its capital city of Khartoum.
Efforts to pacify the conflict have been ongoing as diplomats hailing from various organizations including United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates (UAE), African Union and the United Nations are attempting to reopen negotiations.
However, the event was boycotted by the country’s military and although a RSF delegation attended Geneva, they refrained from participating in any discussions.
