Geneva: The United Nations warned of a serious deterioration in the humanitarian situation in Sudan as the country faces one of the world's worst crises of displacement, hunger, and collapse of health services.
According to Qatar News Agency, this announcement came during a media briefing in Geneva with representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as the third anniversary of the outbreak of war approaches on April 15.
WHO Representative in Sudan Shible Sahbani stated that more than 40 percent of the population, or about 21 million people, are in urgent need of health services, given the widespread collapse of the health system due to the destruction or disruption of most hospitals. He noted that more than 200 attacks on health facilities have been documented, resulting in more than 2,050 deaths, including 16 attacks during the first quarter of 2026 that left nearly 200 dead and more than 300 injured. He urged the international community to increase funding, ensure respect for international humanitarian law, and facilitate aid access to prevent outbreaks of dangerous diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and cholera.
FAO Representative in Sudan Hongjie Yang reported that approximately 21 million people are experiencing acute levels of food insecurity, including nearly 3 million in emergency or catastrophic conditions, largely due to a 22 percent decline in cereal production compared to the previous year.
Meanwhile, UNHCR representative Marie-Helene Verney highlighted that about a quarter of Sudan's population has been displaced since the outbreak of the conflict, with the total number of people affected by displacement reaching approximately 12 million, including 9 million internally displaced persons.