The United States, the United Arab Emirates, and other international players have called on Sudan’s warring factions to agree to temporary pauses in fighting to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid. The joint statement expressed alarm at the worsening hunger crisis, warning of severe malnutrition and famine spreading across the country.
Why Is Sudan Facing a Hunger Crisis?
Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, when the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) went to war. According to the United Nations, nearly 25 million people are now facing extreme hunger, with millions cut off from life-saving assistance. The crisis is most acute in North Darfur and Kordofan, where aid agencies report escalating barriers to access.
In their statement, the group said it was “appalled by the continuous deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Sudan, including the growing number of people in situations of severe malnutrition and famine, and by the wide range of access impediments that are delaying or blocking the response in key areas.”
What Are the Countries Calling For?
The coalition urged Sudan’s rival forces to “allow for humanitarian pauses to enable the movement of life-saving supplies into such areas, and ease barriers to civilian.” They further stressed that “international humanitarian law must be fully respected.”
The statement was signed not only by the US and UAE but also by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the African Union, and the United Nations. These players have been central in diplomatic efforts to contain Sudan’s worsening crisis.
The UAE has faced accusations of supporting the RSF, allegedly by supplying arms and even hiring Colombian mercenaries on their behalf. Sudanese authorities have repeatedly pointed to this as a factor complicating the conflict. The new joint call for aid access, however, signals a broader international consensus on the urgent need to prioritize civilian survival over political or military interests.
The appeal comes as the United States itself faces mounting criticism for backing Israel’s offensive in Gaza, which is also experiencing a humanitarian emergency.
By Lucky Anyanje