WHO chief urges global action, calls Sudan situation a 'perfect storm of crises'

Thechiefof the United Nations'WorldHealth Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was shocked by theworld's insufficient action to stop the crisis inSudanafter visiting a children's hospital caring for malnourished infants inPortSudanon Saturday (September 7)

At a press conference on Sunday (Sep 8), Ghebreyesus urged theworldto "wake up"andhelpthe war-stricken country as if faces multiple crises.

Civilians inSudanare facing worsening famine, mass displacementanddisease after 17 months of war, aid agencies say.

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U.S.-led mediators said last month that they had secured guarantees from both parties at talks in Switzerlandto improve access for humanitarian aid, but that theSudanese army's absence from the discussions had hindered progress.

""Sudanis suffering through a perfect storm of crises. Over 500 days of conflict, the largest level of displacement in theworld, famine in some partsandrisk of this in others, 25.6 million people, over half ofSudan's population, are expected to face high-levels of acute food insecurity," Ghebreyesus said.

TheWHOChiefsaid the people ofSudanwere struggling though flooding, dam bursting, diseases including cholera, malaria, dengue, measles, the risk of Mpox, conflict-related sexual violenceanda near collapse of the country's entire health system.

Sudan's infrastructure was already in disrepair before the war between theSudanese armyandthe paramilitary Rapid Forces which began in April 2023.

Both sides have since funnelled the bulk of their resources into the conflict, leaving infrastructure badly neglectedanda healthcare system in disarray.

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