Khartoum: The war in Sudan entered its third year on Tuesday, with no political horizon in sight. The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues. It has so far killed tens of thousands and displaced over 13 million people, some to neighboring countries. It has caused an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in modern history, according to the UN and the African Union.
According to Qatar News Agency, the humanitarian crisis resulting from the Sudanese war is one of the most severe in the world. Some 25 million people, nearly half of Sudan's population, face severe food insecurity, with severe shortage of medicine. Human rights organizations have documented serious violations, including random killings, rape, and the recruitment of child soldiers, exacerbating the suffering of civilians trapped between conflict and poverty.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that two years into a devastating war, Sudan remains in a crisis of staggering proportions, with civilians paying the heaviest price. In a press statement, he added "Indiscriminate shelling and air strikes continue to kill and maim," citing ongoing attacks on "markets, hospitals, schools, places of worship and displacement sites." Guterres addressed Sudan's deteriorating services, with millions of children out of school and most health facilities nonfunctional in conflict zones. He noted the commitments made by the parties to protect civilians, including those contained in the Jeddah Declaration of May 2023, as well as their obligations under international law and human rights law, stressing the need to turn them into concrete action.
The Secretary-General expressed grave concern about the continued flow of weapons and fighters into Sudan, which is a catalyst in the continuation and spread of conflict, and stressed the need to stop the flow of weapons, urging influential actors to help end the crisis rather than prolong it.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi raised alarm that continuing to turn a blind eye to the situation in Sudan, as the war enters its third year, will have catastrophic consequences for the country and the region. In a statement, Grandi called for every effort to achieve peace in Sudan, calling for increased humanitarian aid and enhanced development support. He also warned Europeans of an influx of Sudanese refugees if adequate assistance is not provided.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that Sudan is on the brink of becoming the world's largest hunger crisis in modern history, as ongoing conflict devastates livelihoods, infrastructure, trade routes, and supply chains, noting that without humanitarian assistance, hundreds of thousands could die. The WFP confirmed famine in Zamzam displacement camp in August 2024, pointing out that it has since spread to ten more areas and now threatens 17 others. Without urgent humanitarian aid, hundreds of thousands could die. The WFP is urgently seeking $650 million to sustain its operations in Sudan.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has warned that as the conflict in Sudan enters its third year, the number of children in need of humanitarian assistance has doubled, from 7.8 million at the start of 2023 to more than 15 million now. Without urgent action, Sudan's dire humanitarian crisis could tip into greater catastrophe, UNICEF said.
"Two years of violence and displacement have shattered the lives of millions of children across Sudan. Needs continue to outpace humanitarian funding," UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said. The organization said that the number of grave violations against children has surged by 1000 per cent in two years. While such violations were previously confined to regions such as Darfur, Blue Nile, and South Kordofan, the ongoing conflict across the country has led to grave violations being verified in more than half of Sudan's 18 states, it pointed out, adding that the most recurrent grave violations verified in Sudan include killing and maiming, abductions of children and attacks on schools and hospitals.
Meanwhile, the G7 called for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" in Sudan, urging both parties to engage meaningfully in serious and constructive negotiations in a joint statement. Meanwhile, countries participating in the London Sudan Conference, held Tuesday in the British capital, pledged to provide more than 800 million euros in additional aid to support humanitarian efforts in Sudan.
The participants in the conference, organized at the initiative of the UK, the European Union, Germany, France, and the African Union, called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Sudan. In their final statement, they emphasized the need to preserve the country's unity and prevent any foreign interference in the conflict. They also emphasized that a comprehensive political solution is the only way to end the crisis and ensure a stable future for Sudan and its people.
Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef confirmed that the SAF control most of the country, with the exception of parts of Darfur and "limited pockets" in Kordofan and South Omdurman states. He noted the continuation of operations to protect civilians and reiterated Sudan's readiness for a ceasefire, provided that the RSF withdraw from the areas they occupy, cease their operations, and hand over their heavy weapons. He indicated that a road map for this matter has been submitted to the United Nations.
Despite international attempts to mediate the conflict, political efforts have not achieved tangible progress. As the war enters its third year, the outlook for the future appears bleak, portending the continuation of the conflict, the worsening crisis, and the worsening humanitarian suffering.
The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is one of the largest in the world. According to UN reports, approximately 30 million people are in need of assistance. Meanwhile, the consequences of this ongoing conflict have extended beyond Sudan's borders, with approximately 3.8 million refugees having crossed into neighboring countries. Egypt hosts over 600,000 refugees, and Chad more than 700,000. The number is estimated to rise to approximately 1 million refugees in Chad by the end of 2025.