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WHO Calls for $145 Million to Respond to Health Emergency in Sudan

WHO describes scale of the health crisis in Sudan as "unprecedented - (Photo - AFP)
WHO describes scale of the health crisis in Sudan as "unprecedented - (Photo - AFP)
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WHO Calls for $145 Million to Respond to Health Emergency in Sudan

WHO describes scale of the health crisis in Sudan as "unprecedented - (Photo - AFP)
WHO describes scale of the health crisis in Sudan as "unprecedented - (Photo - AFP)

The World Health Organization (WHO) requested a $145 million fund appeal to meet the increasing health needs of people affected by violence in Sudan.

WHO described the scale of the health crisis as "unprecedented," saying the funding will allow it to reach 7.6 million people inside Sudan and more than 500,000 individuals forced to flee to neighbouring Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan "with lifesaving interventions and delivery of essential health services over the next six months."

"We need urgent support from the international community so that the devastating impact on the country's healthcare system is mitigated and access to health services is sustained,” said Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.

Nearly two months of intense fighting in Sudan has resulted in loss of life, injuries and significant damage to the country’s infrastructure, including health facilities.

About 60% of health facilities across the country are non-functional, with assets and supplies looted or destroyed.

Also, several critical services have been discontinued, including maternal and child health care as well as treatment for patients suffering from chronic diseases.

"More than 100.000 children are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition with medical complications by the end of the year."

WHO said it's scaling up its response to include supporting the delivery of integrated essential health services, including trauma and emergency care, while reinforcing surveillance for epidemic-prone diseases.

“Health services are among the most urgent needs of the people fleeing the conflict. We are already delivering essential lifesaving health supplies and services, but the needs are growing. With additional donor support, we can reach those most in need and provide them with adequate assistance,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

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Arab World

London to Host International Conference in Mid-April on ‘Peace and Civilian Protection’ in Sudan

A photo taken in January 2024 shows women and children at the Zamzam displacement camp near El Fasher in North Darfur, Sudan (Reuters)
A photo taken in January 2024 shows women and children at the Zamzam displacement camp near El Fasher in North Darfur, Sudan (Reuters)
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London to Host International Conference in Mid-April on ‘Peace and Civilian Protection’ in Sudan

A photo taken in January 2024 shows women and children at the Zamzam displacement camp near El Fasher in North Darfur, Sudan (Reuters)
A photo taken in January 2024 shows women and children at the Zamzam displacement camp near El Fasher in North Darfur, Sudan (Reuters)

Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Yusuf described the visit of a British diplomatic delegation to the administrative capital, Port Sudan, as “highly significant,” stating that it aimed to consult with the Sudanese government regarding London’s plans to hold an international conference on Sudan in mid-April.

The conference, set to coincide with the second anniversary of the conflict, seeks to coordinate efforts between the two foreign ministries.

In an exclusive statement to Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday, Yusuf clarified that the conference will focus solely on humanitarian issues, civilian protection, and peace, with no other objectives.

He added: “The British delegation’s visit is to brief the Sudanese government on the conference’s goals and the invited parties.”

The Sudanese minister welcomed the British initiative as a “positive step,” following a key meeting with British officials in Munich, where bilateral relations and diplomatic engagement between Sudan and the UK were discussed to prevent escalations in international forums. “So far, discussions are progressing well,” he stated.

Yusuf confirmed that communication and meetings between Port Sudan and London are ongoing, saying: “The Sudanese ambassador in London arranged a meeting for me with the British Minister of State for African Affairs, which was highly constructive.”

On Tuesday, Port Sudan received a British diplomatic delegation that included Harriet Matthews, Director General for Africa, the Americas, and the Overseas Territories at the UK Foreign Office; Richard Crowder, the UK Special Envoy to Sudan; Mark Taylor, a political advisor at the British Embassy in Cairo; and the head of the UK Office for Sudan Affairs.

In its first meetings with Sudanese officials, the delegation met with the Governor of Darfur, Minni Arko Minnawi, to discuss the worsening humanitarian conditions for displaced people, particularly in Darfur’s camps.

Minnawi informed the delegation that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continue to block roads and prevent aid convoys from reaching those in need. He also criticized the international community’s stance on the situation in Darfur and urged Britain to take a more active role in addressing the crisis affecting the region’s population.

The British delegation is also expected to address Sudan’s accusations against the UK, alleging that it has “abandoned its moral and political responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, supported war financiers in Sudan, and held secret meetings with RSF leaders—making it complicit in the atrocities being committed.”

In November 2024, Britain, alongside Sierra Leone, submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council aimed at strengthening measures to protect civilians in Sudan. The resolution urged both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF to uphold their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration on humanitarian principles. However, Russia vetoed the resolution, arguing that it undermined Sudan’s sovereignty.

In December, Sudanese Deputy Sovereign Council Chairman Malik Agar informed the British envoy of his government’s objections to the UK’s stance on the war, stating that Sudan “is dissatisfied with Britain’s negative and unsupportive position toward the Sudanese people.”