GENEVA: The United Nations on Friday said that only 12 percent of the $2.7 billion sought for Sudan’s war-torn regions has been received, warning that ‘famine is closing in’.
“It is a catastrophically underfunded appeal”, Jens Laerke, spokesman for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) told reporters while describing the situation.
“Without more resources coming in fast, humanitarian organisations won’t be able to scale up in time to stave off famine and prevent further deprivation”, he said.
Highlighting the dire conditions in Sudan, Laerke noted that half of the population, totaling 25 million people, are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. With famine, diseases, and conflict encroaching upon civilians, particularly in Darfur, the situation is becoming increasingly critical.
Concerns have escalated in recent days as reports of intense fighting in densely populated areas emerge, notably in El-Fasher, the last major city in western Darfur not under control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Laerke urged donors to fulfill their pledges, emphasizing the need for immediate action to prevent Sudan from hurtling towards disaster. He urged them not to remain passive observers but to actively contribute to changing the trajectory of events and averting a humanitarian catastrophe.
