Sudan’s Silent Suffering: UN Urges Global Action as Conflict Enters Third Year

UNITED NATIONS, April 15 (WSH) — Two years since the eruption of Sudan’s civil war, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark reminder to the global community: “We must not forget the people of Sudan.” As violence escalates, humanitarian needs soar, and atrocities mount, the UN chief called for an immediate end to external interference that threatens to fracture the nation even further.

War Without End: A Nation in Collapse

The ongoing power struggle between Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has plunged the country into a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, now labeled the worst in the world.

“The situation in Khartoum is extremely dire,” reported Luca Renda, UNDP’s representative in Sudan, following an on-ground assessment. “There’s massive destruction of infrastructure, no water or electricity, and widespread contamination from unexploded ordnance.”

UN agencies estimate that over three million people may attempt to return to the capital despite its devastation, highlighting the desperate search for stability.

Darfur Massacres Spark Alarm

Over the weekend, Darfur witnessed fresh horrors. In Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps, more than 400 civilians — including 10 medical workers from Relief International — were reportedly killed in attacks linked to RSF and allied militias. The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) says up to 80,000 have already fled, and the number may climb to 400,000.

Male civilians have become primary targets, with many fleeing toward El Fasher, one of the last Sudanese Armed Forces strongholds under siege.

Women Bear the Brunt: Rape as a Weapon of War

Amid the chaos, reports of systematic sexual violence are rising. Mohamed Refaat, IOM Chief of Mission in Sudan, shared chilling testimonies from women survivors in Port Sudan: “They were attacked in front of their injured husbands, in front of their screaming children.”

UN Women reports a 288% spike in demand for lifesaving support related to sexual violence. “We are seeing women’s bodies being turned into battlegrounds,” warned Anna Mutavati, UN Women’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. “This looks increasingly like the systematic use of rape as a weapon of war.”

Guterres: End Foreign Meddling, Stop the Flow of Weapons

Guterres called for an end to the flow of weapons and fighters into Sudan. “External support must stop,” he said. “Those with influence must use it to help, not to perpetuate disaster.”

His warning comes amid growing fears that Sudan is sliding toward de facto partition, with rival forces entrenching themselves in separate territories.

A Forgotten War

As the war drags into its third year, Sudan’s plight has faded from global headlines. Yet with tens of millions in need and atrocities mounting, the UN insists the world cannot turn away.

“This is a crisis of unimaginable scale,” said Guterres. “And we cannot allow it to be ignored.”

Please follow and like us: