Faith Nyasuguta
Sudan, a nation ravaged by conflict and despair, faces the grim possibility of becoming a failed state, according to Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). As civil society crumbles and armed groups multiply, the once hopeful nation is now a battlefield where survival hangs by a thread.
For 19 months, a fierce power struggle between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has plunged the country into chaos. This brutal conflict has displaced over 10 million people and brought Sudan to the edge of starvation. Egeland, following a recent trip to the region, described the crisis as unparalleled: “This is the biggest humanitarian emergency on our watch, the biggest hunger crisis, the biggest displacement crisis.”
The scale of suffering is staggering. Besides the two main warring factions, smaller “ethnic armies” have emerged, looting, terrorizing civilians, and wreaking havoc across the country. Egeland painted a bleak picture: “The parties are tearing down their own houses, they are massacring their own people.“ Rights groups fear that ethnic cleansing and even genocide may be underway, as violence targets specific communities with devastating precision.
Starvation has become a grim weapon in this conflict, wielded to crush resistance and control populations. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in September that starvation is now a widespread crisis across Sudan. Soup kitchens, once lifelines for many, have shut down due to underfunding. Egeland lamented that what little aid remains serves only to “delay deaths instead of preventing them.”
Egeland warned of catastrophic consequences if the global community continues to neglect Sudan. Food security experts fear that up to 2.5 million people could succumb to hunger by the end of the year. He emphasized that the world is “failing Sudan completely,” calling for urgent international action to address the crisis.
Egeland highlighted the disconnect between the scale of Sudan’s emergency and the global response. Despite being the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, aid efforts remain severely underfunded. He urged Europe and other regions to act decisively, not just out of moral obligation but to prevent a potential refugee crisis. “If Europe wants to avoid a refugee crisis, it must invest in aid, protection, and peace in this corner of the world,“ he stated.
Attempts to broker peace between the RSF and the army have repeatedly failed, leaving little hope for a resolution. Egeland argued that the war will only end when Sudan’s warlords realize that the cost of continued fighting outweighs any potential gains. However, as the conflict drags on, the country inches closer to total collapse.
Thousands have already lost their lives in the violence, with countless more living in fear and deprivation. As Sudan teeters on the edge, the world’s inaction risks turning a humanitarian tragedy into an irreversible catastrophe.
The human toll of Sudan’s crisis cannot be overstated. Families have been torn apart, entire communities displaced, and children left to starve. Yet, amid the devastation, the resilience of Sudan’s people shines through. Many continue to hope for a future free from war and hunger, though the odds seem insurmountable.
Sudan’s plight is a stark reminder of the consequences of neglect and indifference. As the international community watches from afar, millions of Sudanese endure unimaginable suffering. Egeland’s warning is clear: without swift and substantial intervention, Sudan may become a failed state, and the global repercussions will be profound.
The time to act is now.
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