The head of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said he was shocked by the world’s insufficient action to stop the crisis in Sudan after visiting a children’s hospital caring for malnourished children in Port Sudan on Saturday (7).
At a press conference on Sunday (8), Ghebreyesus urged the world to “wake up” and help the war-torn country as it faces multiple crises.
Civilians in Sudan face worsening hunger, mass displacement and disease after 17 months of war, aid agencies say.
U.S.-led mediators said last month they had assurances from both sides in talks taking place in Switzerland to improve access for humanitarian aid, but that the absence of the Sudanese army from the discussions had hampered progress.
“Sudan is experiencing a perfect storm of crises. With more than 500 days of conflict, the highest level of displacement in the world, famine in some parts and the risk of famine in others, 25.6 million people, more than half of Sudan’s population, are expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity,” said Ghebreyesus.
The WHO chief also said the people of Sudan are struggling with floods, dam failures, diseases such as cholera, malaria, dengue fever, measles, smallpox risk, conflict-related sexual violence and a near collapse of the country’s entire health system.
Sudan’s infrastructure was already in poor condition before the war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Forces, which began in April 2023.
Since then, both sides have channeled most of their resources into the conflict, leaving infrastructure severely neglected and a health system in disarray.
This content was originally published in World needs to “wake up” and help Sudan, says WHO Chief on CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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