[ad_1]
16 July 2024 (Geneva) – The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday that 800,000 people in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, are facing a severe humanitarian crisis, trapped without adequate food, water or medical care amid growing fears of famine.
WHO Representative to Sudan Dr Shibur Sahbani sounded the urgent alert, highlighting the dire situation in El Fasher, where heavy fighting between rival military factions has made access to the city “completely impossible”.
Since May 10, El Fasher has been the scene of intense fighting between the Syrian government forces and their allies and the Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has resulted in heavy civilian casualties, widespread displacement and severe damage to infrastructure.
In addition, the ongoing fighting has severely hampered humanitarian efforts, leaving vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers suffering from severe hunger and lack of basic health care.
WHO calls on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians, aid workers and vital infrastructure, including hospitals. Dr. Sabani stressed the urgent need for immediate access to El Fasher and other affected areas to avoid a further deterioration of the health situation.
The latest WHO warning highlights the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where the ongoing conflict continues to wreak havoc on the lives and well-being of millions of people. As peace talks continue in Geneva, the international community faces the challenge of addressing the urgent needs of those caught in the crossfire and finding a lasting solution to the conflict.
The fighting in El Fasher has resulted in massive displacement and has added to the suffering of those who had fled to El Fasher from other Darfur states controlled by the Sudan Revolutionary Front.
During a recent assessment in Chad, Sabani was deeply moved by the stories of Sudanese refugees fleeing hunger and famine, who stressed that the main reason for their departure was not insecurity or lack of services, but simply lack of food.
One woman described how armed men took their locally produced food, forcing her and her children to walk for three days without food to reach safety in Chad.
Sabani noted that the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) continued to negotiate with the warring parties to allow the delivery of aid. He mentioned that seven trucks were carrying relief supplies from Kordofan to Darfur and said he was optimistic about the cross-border aid operation because all parties had sent positive signals.
[ad_2]
Source link
