The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday that about 25.6 million people – over half of the population of Sudan – face acute hunger, including more than 755,000 people on the brink of famine.
The Office said after more than a year of the conflict in Sudan, an estimated 10.7 million people (2.1 million families) are now internally displaced, according to latest analysis.
Also, recent clashes in the Sennar state have displaced another 151,000 people inside and outside the state.
In July, the UN Secretary-General's personal envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, held a week of indirect talks involving Sudan's warring parties in Geneva, with the aim of reaching an agreement on the delivery of humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians. But the talks ended in failure.
In a related development, Sudanese authorities on Tuesday received more than 20 metric tons of essential medicines, diagnostics and supplies from the UN Development Program in Sudan to ensure the continuation of HIV and TB treatment for patients throughout the country.
The delivery, from the Global Fund, is worth just under $900,000.
UNDP Sudan has overseen five delivery flights carrying medicines, diagnostics and equipment since the beginning of hostilities on April 15, 2023, according to documents seen by Asharq Al-Awsat.
This shipment arrived via charter flight from Nairobi to Port Sudan and was offloaded to the National Medical Supplies Fund (NMSF), which is overseen by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), on July 20.
Medicines, diagnostics and supplies from this shipment will be distributed to beneficiaries across the country.
They will be used to replenish the stock of Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) Tuberculosis Medicines and pediatric Anti-Retroviral (ARV) medicines lost during the escalation of the Sudan conflict in November 2023, resulting in the restoration of treatment for over 120 MDR TB patients and 368 children living with HIV/AIDs.
Adult ARV medicines were also delivered in this consignment, which will be utilized by 11,429 adults living with HIV/AIDS.
Continuous availability of TB and HIV medicine is essential to ensuring continuity of treatment, prevention of the spread of infection in the population, and avoidance of the advancement of disease that may lead to higher treatment costs or death.
“UNDP commends the Federal Ministry of Health for remaining resilient and committed to delivering health services during this time. Strengthening systems to support national capacity is the core of our mission in Sudan,” said UNDP Sudan Resident Representative Luca Renda.
“We will continue to enhance our partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Global Fund and other partners to strengthen medicines/health products supply and distribution systems, which will ensure continuity of HIV and TB treatments while supporting the foundation for a sustainable healthcare system in the future for the country,” he added.
Dr. Sara Abdulla Azhari, the Director of Communicable Diseases Control Directorate at the Federal Ministry of Health said the Federal Ministry of Health, said UNDP Sudan and the Global Fund have been excellent partners in maintaining and supporting the public health system of the country.
UNDP said it has been committed to staying and delivering in Sudan, supporting the Sudanese people by continuing its development mission in the country.
This year, UNDP Sudan said it will look to deploy $32 million into the Sudanese health sector.
Since the start of the conflict in April 2023, almost 80% of hospitals in the conflict-affected areas have become non-operational, with the rest operating in limited capacity, according to recent UN and local data.
