Statement by the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, to mark one year of conflict

Half of Sudan’s population - 25 million people - need humanitarian assistance; 8.6 million people are displaced inside and outside Sudan, including 4 million children; and over 14,000 women, men, and children have reportedly been killed. Nearly 5 million people are one step away from famine and 18 million people are facing acute food insecurity - 10 million more people than the same time last year.
 
Yet, these numbers do not adequately capture the scope of the devastation caused by the war. The longer the fighting continues, the worse the tragedy gets. As we mark one year of the devastating conflict, I reiterate the unwavering commitment of the humanitarian community to assist all people affected by the crisis. The continuing violence is out of hand. The suffering of millions of people in Sudan needs to end once and for all.
 
I welcome ongoing efforts towards a ceasefire, but I reiterate that all parties must abide by the agreements they made in Jeddah and commit to long-lasting peace. In particular, I ask the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to protect civilians and allow unfettered humanitarian access so that people in desperate need can receive the lifesaving assistance that they require.
 
Despite an extremely difficult and dangerous operating environment, United Nations agencies and their partners have reached more than 8 million people with lifesaving assistance over the last year. In 2024, humanitarian partners have appealed for US$4.1 billion through the 2024 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan and the 2024 Sudan Refuge Response Plan to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs in Sudan and neighbouring countries that have been kind enough to host large populations of Sudanese refugees. So far, only 6 per cent of the funding required for the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan has been received.
 
I urge the international community not to forget the people of Sudan whose lives have been ripped apart by the war. Additional resources are urgently required to support a humanitarian response that has been significantly underfunded since the start of the current conflict. This includes resources for the Sudan Famine Prevention Plan 2024 which was published on 12 April.