A displaced family siting on the floor
The United Nations has urged countries not to forget millions of people caught up in the war between rival militaries in Sudan.
It also called for 4.1 billion dollars to help stave off famine and assist those who had fled into neighbouring countries.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, told reporters in Geneva, noting that; “Half of Sudan’s population, 25 million people, needs humanitarian assistance.”
He, therefore, emphasised that the appeal comprises two key components: 2.7 billion dollars Humanitarian Need, Response Plan targeting 14.7 million people within Sudan and 1.4 billion dollars Regional Refugee Response Plan aimed at assisting 2.7 million people in five neighbouring nations.
Refugee camp
Griffiths also revealed that the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will manage the response in Sudan while the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will lead the regional initiative.
He said; “If we start seeing famine in Sudan, and it won’t be the first time we’ve seen famine in Sudan, which would add to the violence, displacement and lack of a political horizon, then I think we can all agree we have no humanity in us that would allow this to happen.”
Recent assessments reveal that two out of three Sudanese lack access to healthcare, with approximately 19 million children out of school.