ALBAWABA: The World Health Organization (WHO) in its latest report warned that 800,000 people who are still stuck in Darfur’s El Fasher have no food, water, or medical support.
WHO representative in Sudan, Dr Shible Sahbani, said that access to El Fasher has become completely impossible because of the heavy fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
As talks between the warring parties in Geneva continue, Sahbani told the media that many Sudanese states are in dire need of assistance. “Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum, and Al Jazira states are all but cut off from humanitarian and health assistance due to the relentless fighting,” Sahbani added.
The WHO envoy stated the situation in Darfur is alarming, where in areas like El Fasher, the injured cannot get urgent care while children and pregnant and breastfeeding women are weak because of hunger.
He said the medical and humanitarian teams have been stressing for immediate access to the most affected areas which can almost be deemed as besieged by the warring parties.
The WHO official called for immediate access to avert the disastrous health situation and ensure the protection of civilians, aid teams, and public infrastructure such as hospitals in line with international humanitarian law.
A few hospitals in El Fasher have been supplied with some medical aid, but the WHO official warned that it is not enough and not sustainable. He said the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, was still negotiating with the various warring factions to allow relief supplies to be delivered in whenever feasible.
Sahbani termed the situation in Sudan as one of the worst in the world stating that just 26 percent of the funding for the humanitarian response is still available.
Under the direction of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal ambassador for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, talks between representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces started in Geneva last week.
