The United Nations has issued a stark and urgent warning, declaring that Sudan is teetering on the brink of the world's worst hunger crisis, with the war-ravaged Darfur region facing a terrifying resurgence of ethnic violence and the imminent threat of famine.
In a sobering address from Cairo, UN humanitarian coordinator Clementine Nkweta-Salami described a nation in freefall. "What is happening is verging on pure evil," she stated, painting a harrowing picture of the situation. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has unleashed a wave of suffering unlike any seen before.
A Descent into Famine and Brutality
The statistics are staggering. Over 8.6 million people have been forced from their homes, creating the largest displacement crisis on the planet. A shocking 25 million Sudanese—more than half the population—now require urgent humanitarian assistance to survive.
Ms. Nkweta-Salami highlighted the particularly grim fate of Darfur, a region with a painful history of genocide. There, communities are being systematically attacked and hunted based on their ethnicity. The RSF, which has its roots in the Janjaweed militias of the early 2000s, and allied Arab militias are accused of perpetrating atrocities that echo the darkest chapters of the region's past.
Ramadan Under Siege
The crisis is intensifying during the holy month of Ramadan, a time traditionally marked by peace and community. Instead, millions face the terrifying prospect of starvation. Aid agencies are struggling to reach those in need, with their efforts hamstrung by bureaucratic obstacles, targeted attacks on convoys, and widespread looting of essential supplies.
The UN official's appeal was unequivocal: the international community must act now. She called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, safe and unhindered access for aid workers, and a massive injection of funding. The world, she warned, must not look away as Sudan descends further into an abyss of hunger and hatred.
