Four UN agencies issue urgent call for international action amid ‘one of the worst protection crises in decades’
United Nations, October 23 — Sudan is grappling with one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies, with more than 30 million people requiring assistance as the country enters its third year of devastating conflict, four United Nations agencies warned Thursday.
The crisis has displaced over 9.6 million people within Sudan’s borders and left nearly 15 million children in desperate need of aid, according to a joint press release issued by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Food Programme (WFP).
‘Pushed to the Brink of Survival’
“Over 900 days of brutal fighting, widespread violations of human rights, famine, and the breakdown of life-sustaining services have pushed millions to the brink of survival, particularly women and children,” the agencies stated in their joint release.
Senior leaders from all four organizations recently visited Sudan, witnessing firsthand the devastating impact across conflict-affected regions including Darfur, Khartoum, and other areas ravaged by violence.
The prolonged conflict has decimated essential services. Healthcare systems and educational institutions have collapsed, while famine—officially confirmed in parts of Sudan last year—continues to grip the nation. Children bear the brunt of the hunger crisis, with malnutrition rates reaching catastrophic levels.
A Fragile Return Home
Despite the dire conditions, some families are returning to Sudan, driven by determination to rebuild their lives after years of relentless warfare. The agencies described this movement as “a fragile but hopeful shift,” though they emphasized that “Sudan remains a country in deep crisis.”
“This scale of return to Khartoum is both a sign of resilience and a warning,” said Ugochi Daniels, IOM’s deputy director general for operations, following her recent visit to the country.
‘One of the Worst Protection Crises in Decades’
Access to affected populations remains severely limited. Humanitarian organizations face a combination of insecurity, bureaucratic obstacles, and logistical challenges that make delivering life-saving aid extremely difficult.
“This is one of the worst protection crises we’ve seen in decades,” said Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner at UNHCR, after visiting displacement sites in Port Sudan and areas outside Khartoum. “Millions are displaced inside and outside of the country and returning families have little support with the absence of other options.”
Critical Funding Shortfall
The humanitarian response faces a crippling financial gap. The 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan requires $4.2 billion but has received only 25 percent of needed funding, further compounding the crisis.
Urgent Call to Action
The four UN agencies issued a joint appeal calling for:
- Immediate cessation of hostilities and protection of civilians
- Unhindered humanitarian access to all affected populations
- Simplified procedures for aid delivery and staff movement
- Urgent and flexible funding to scale up lifesaving interventions
- Support for durable solutions for displaced populations
- Continued assistance for internally displaced persons and the nearly 900,000 refugees inside Sudan who need international protection and services
As the conflict drags into its third year with no resolution in sight, the international community faces mounting pressure to respond to what aid officials are calling one of the world’s most neglected emergencies.
