Is Sudan the most neglected crisis today?

The people of Sudan are in a living nightmare at the moment. UN officials on Tuesday raised serious concerns over escalating violence in the country pushing the humanitarian crisis to unprecedented levels. 11 million people have been internally displaced.

The situation is nothing but catastrophic. The Sudanese people are navigating a tough period full of hunger, disease and sexual violence. The conflict erupted in 2023, involving the Sudanese armed forces (Saf) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (Rsf).

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has highlighted that 3.1 million people are currently sheltering beyond Sudan’s borders. There have been reports of indiscriminate attacks killing civilians, including scores of young children.

Global community’s insufficient response to Sudan crisis

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has also voiced “extreme concern” over the dramatic escalation of hostilities in Sudan, urging all parties involved in the brutal conflict to de-escalate the situation and put a stop to violations by their forces.

The UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission recently released a report to highlight the staggering levels of sexual violence by RSF forces, especially in Darfur, Greater Khartoum and Geziera States. The acts amount to crimes against humanity, as per the investigation.

Despite the severity of the Sudan crisis, the international community’s response remains underfunded. The UN’s humanitarian appeal for the country is only 52% funded. It is safe to stress that Sudan is possibly the most neglected crisis today.