Nearly 30 Million in Sudan Require Humanitarian Aid Amid Escalating Conflict

As Sudan’s civil war continues to ravage the nation, officials have revealed a staggering increase in humanitarian needs. On Wednesday, the Sudanese government announced that 28.9 million people now require assistance, marking a significant rise since the conflict’s outbreak in April.

Salwa Adam Benya, Sudan’s humanitarian aid commissioner, detailed the dire situation during a humanitarian response conference in Port Sudan, the capital of the eastern Red Sea State. “In October, the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance rose to 28.9 million, an increase of 13.1 million after the outbreak of the war last April,” she stated.

Of those affected, 16.9 million individuals are in urgent need of life-saving aid. Benya emphasized the colossal requirements to meet these needs, highlighting that approximately 840,000 metric tons of assistance are necessary over the next two months.

Ibrahim Jabir, a member of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, urged the international community to honor its commitments. “We call on the world to provide the necessary support to the Sudanese people,” he appealed, reinforcing the government’s dedication to facilitating aid delivery.

To ensure relief reaches those most affected, the government has reopened seven border crossings. “We have opened seven crossings, including the Adre crossing, which we know the militia has misused,” Jabir noted, referencing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

In a bid to streamline humanitarian efforts, Sudan extended the opening of the Adre border crossing with Chad for an additional three months. Initially closed in February due to concerns over the RSF using it to transport weapons, the crossing’s reopening signifies a critical step in addressing the humanitarian crisis.

The conflict, which erupted in mid-April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, has plunged the nation into turmoil. As the war drags on, millions are left vulnerable, amplifying the need for swift and substantial humanitarian intervention.