Fighting in Sudan will worsen the country’s already dire humanitarian situation, World Vision warns

SEATTLE (April 24, 2023) – As clashes in Sudan continue, the acute needs of Sudanese children and their families will only grow, global humanitarian organization World Vision warned today.

Even before the eruption of violence on April 15, Sudan already faced extreme challenges, with nearly 16 million people — about a third of the total population — dependent on humanitarian assistance. Some 11 million people in the country lack access to clean water and sanitation, 10 million need basic medical services, and 7 million out-of-school children need education support.  Hunger is a particularly grave concern, with 6.2 million people already experiencing crisis levels of food insecurity and an additional 1.5 million on the brink of famine.

The continuing conflict has worsened this situation,  as shops and markets have been forced to close and people are trapped at home, unable to get food or clean water. According to the U.N., at least 11 health facilities have been attacked and many are no longer functioning at all in the states of Khartoum and Darfur. Humanitarian activities have been disrupted in many states due to widespread insecurity, with many reports of humanitarian assets being looted, including at the World Vision office in Nyala, South Darfur.

“Sudan is experiencing the highest humanitarian caseload in over a decade with nearly 16 million people in need of life-saving humanitarian assistance.  The escalating violence is only making the situation worse,” said Emmanuel Isch, director of World Vision in Sudan. “We join humanitarian partners in calling for an immediate end to the violence. Every child deserves a safe and protected childhood without the fear of violence, crossfire and trauma.”

World Vision is one of the largest humanitarian agencies with a presence in Sudan, having worked in the country for over 36 years.  Over the past year, World Vision has reached more than 1.5 million people, most of them women and children, with emergency assistance, including with programs focused on food security, child protection, health and nutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene.

World Vision has temporarily suspended operations, but the organization’s 308 local staff, along with its many volunteers and partners, are committed to getting back to work serving Sudan’s most vulnerable people as soon as security allows.

World Vision joins other humanitarian agencies in calling for all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians, particularly children.

“It is essential that peace is urgently restored if children who are malnourished and face starvation are not to experience deep suffering that could cut short their lives,” Isch added. “[Children] under 5 are especially at risk. Without peace we cannot deliver food assistance and nutrition support to extremely vulnerable girls and boys and their communities. As soon as peace is restored and it’s safe to deliver aid, we will be right back out there helping tens of thousands of people.”

About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org or follow on Twitter @WorldVisionUSA.