Khartoum - New York: Europe and the Arabs
"The once-vibrant city is now a ghost town," is a description repeatedly used by Edem Wosoorno, Director of Operations and Advocacy at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, to paint a picture of the state of the Sudanese capital she recently visited. According to the UN's daily news bulletin today, Friday, Wosoorno was speaking to reporters at UN headquarters in New York on Thursday, noting that Sudan is witnessing one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, with 30 million people in need of emergency assistance, while more than four million have fled their homes.
She warned that 638,000 people are suffering from catastrophic hunger conditions, which is Phase 5 of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, in addition to the worsening of acute malnutrition in the country. She added: "Sudan is still suffering from a protection crisis. The laws of war are absent in some areas." Massive Destruction
Regarding her visit to Khartoum earlier this month, her first since April 2023, Wosorno said, "The sheer scale of destruction is horrific. The streets and buildings are littered with explosive remnants of war. Basic services are largely absent. There is a palpable sense of shock everywhere."
Despite the devastation, she said she found a glimmer of hope: "I saw people sweeping the streets, and residents determined to return. But it will take many, many years."
The UN official praised the humanitarian workers who continue to provide aid under perilous conditions. "I think it's good to commend our NGO partners and UN agencies who are providing assistance in these difficult times," she said.
"Please don't forget us."
The OCHA official spoke about her visit to Chad, which now hosts 1.4 million refugees, including 850,000 Sudanese. She warned of high rates of food insecurity and malnutrition there, as well as cholera, the spread of which is a concern not only in Khartoum but also in Darfur and Chad. "Those who have little to share have one thing to say: Please don't forget us," Wosorno said of the host communities.
She concluded her remarks by calling on the international community to push for sustainable improvements in aid access to Sudan.
She also called for more funding, adding, "What we need is 55 cents a day for one person in Sudan. That's it."
The UN official emphasized the need to reach a comprehensive peace and end this war.