‘Time is running out’ in war-torn Sudan as access to aid restricted, WHO warns

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that the crisis in Sudan could worsen in the coming months as the distribution of humanitarian aid and medical supplies remains restricted.

War broke out in Sudan on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese army and the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), devastating the country’s infrastructure, triggering famine warnings and displacing millions of people within and outside the country.

Thousands of civilians were killed, although death toll estimates are highly uncertain, and both sides have been accused of committing war crimes.

“Time is running out. Without an end to the fighting and unimpeded access to the delivery of humanitarian aid, Sudan’s crisis will worsen dramatically in the coming months and could affect the entire region,” said WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier.

“We are only seeing the tip of the iceberg and the situation could be much more dire.”

Lindmeier said 15 million people need urgent medical assistance and diseases such as cholera, malaria and dengue fever are spreading.

He said medical supplies in the country were estimated at about 25% of needs and that 70 to 80% of Sudanese health facilities were not functioning due to the conflict.

“Some states, like Darfur, have not received medical supplies over the past year,” Lindmeier said.

Disease outbreaks are increasing as public health services, including vaccinations, are disrupted, he said.