Red Cross urges international aid as Sudan crisis deepens

What the report says

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is calling for stronger international support for Sudan as the country’s humanitarian crisis worsens and funding remains well below needs, according to Al Jazeera. The organization’s special envoy for Sudan, Derk Segaar, said in Geneva after a recent trip to the country that Sudan is among the world’s largest and least-recognized emergencies.

Al Jazeera reported that the war between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese military, which began in April 2023, has devastated large parts of the country. Aid officials say millions of people lack reliable electricity, clean water and healthcare, while disease, hunger and flooding add to the pressure. The article cited figures showing 35 million people need humanitarian assistance, more than 9 million are displaced inside Sudan and 4.5 million have crossed borders because of the conflict.

The reporting also noted continued fighting in Sudan’s Kordofan region, where the army said it had recently seized several positions along a road linking Omdurman and el-Obeid. Sudanese army Lt. Gen. Yasser al-Atta said the military aims to defeat the RSF before the end of the year. Al Jazeera said the UN and regional groups are also trying to restart stalled political talks, including outreach to Sudanese civilian leaders and discussions with RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.