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| Sudan's displaced civilians. CNN Image |
Sudan's civil war has deteriorated significantly, with many in the capital city of Khartoum struggling to survive. Abdul-Aziz Hussein, a 45-year-old teacher, decided to stay in Khartoum due to the ongoing fighting between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has caused an estimated 5,000 deaths and injuries, with many more injured.
The UN states that over five million people have been displaced by the conflict, and 24.7 million need urgent humanitarian assistance. Many have no access to clean water, increasing the risk of cholera and other diseases. A ceasefire is required to deliver humanitarian aid and assess the extent of their needs.
Unicef's representative in Sudan, Mandeep O'Brien, believes that the war needs to stop now for the sake of children and the future of Sudan. If the war continues, by the end of this year, the situation will be catastrophic. Even those who escaped from Khartoum to the relative safety of Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast often struggle to survive.
In a shelter for displaced people in the port city, Hawa Suleiman tried in vain to make a meal for her five children from the meagre remains of a tin of wheat. However, with no refrigeration, the food sometimes goes off and makes her children sick. She and her children fled Omdurman, the city across the River Nile from Khartoum, soon after the fighting started on 14 April. Bombs were falling as they escaped, and no word has been from him since.
Arriving in Port Sudan after a 1,000km journey, the family applied to be evacuated but were told the boats were for foreigners only. Syrian people in business paid for food to be delivered to Syrian refugees in the camp where they were staying, while Sudanese people went hungry. Ms Suleiman soon discovered she was on her own, and when one of her children fell ill with food poisoning, she was only able to buy antibiotics thanks to a well-wisher who footed half the bill.
As well as the Sudanese, people from many other nationalities are suffering because of the war, including Syrians, Pakistanis, Indians, and large numbers of refugees from South Sudan. In Port Sudan, hundreds of families are now living in an overcrowded shelter that was formerly a university dormitory. Aid workers have also been among the victims of the conflict, with 900 security incidents involving UN workers and 19 deaths.
The UN is struggling to fund its work in the country, having only raised funds to cover a quarter of its R47.7 billion ($2.6bn / £2bn) humanitarian response plan. Ms. Nkweta-Salami urges donors to support their efforts and appeal to the parties to stop the violence and conflict.
