Sudan Crisis Worsens: Hunger, Disease, Heat Devastate Lives

A woman holds her malnourished child in a hospital in Blue Nile state in Sudan.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) raised the alarm on Wednesday over the rising toll of hunger, disease, and displacement in various conflict-ridden parts of Sudan.

In El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, which has been under siege for 15 months, the catastrophic humanitarian situation is worsening. Food shortages and soaring prices have forced community-run kitchens to shut down. Widespread hunger and malnutrition have reportedly caused several deaths and driven some residents to eat animal feed.

In the Tawila locality of North Darfur, humanitarian organizations have strengthened their responses to rising cholera cases. They have expanded the capacity of treatment centres, but needs remain dire. With medical supplies running low, clean water and the construction of latrines are urgent necessities.

In East Darfur state, the Lagawa displacement site, hosting over 7,000 people, is facing severe food shortages and repeated armed attacks. Doctors warn that ongoing conflict continues to block the delivery of aid, leaving vulnerable families without access to food or healthcare.

Meanwhile, floods and storms are displacing families and destroying homes across the country.

In the Rahad locality of North Kordofan state, heavy rains on Monday displaced around 550 people and damaged or destroyed more than 170 homes.

Torrential rains in the eastern state of Kassala have devastated the Gharb Almatar displacement site, affecting more than 6,000 people. Many tents were flooded, exposing children to cold, hunger, and unsanitary conditions. Displaced families urgently need cash assistance, shelter, and protection.

In the coastal city of Port Sudan, extreme heat continues to endanger lives, with three reported deaths and 50 cases of sunstroke this week amid soaring temperatures and widespread power outages.

As temperatures reach 47 degrees Celsius (116.6 degrees Fahrenheit), overwhelmed hospitals are prompting health workers to call for urgent support, including cooling equipment, medical supplies, and personnel.

With these crises compounding, international support is desperately needed. The 2025 response plan, which seeks $4.2 billion to assist 21 million of the most vulnerable people across Sudan, is only 23 per cent funded to date.