'Two years too long': no end in sight for Sudan civil war

Atrocities and worsening famine continue in dire’ situation

- SAMY MAGDY FATMA KHALED

Sudan is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis two years into a brutal civil war, marked by escalating atrocities and widespread famine.

The conflict, described by the UN as the world’s worst humanitarian emergency, has reached a critical juncture following a recent shift in the fighting.

In March, the Sudanese military regained control of the capital, Khartoum, from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This victory, however, has not brought peace, but instead pushed the conflict into a dangerous new phase, raising fears of a potential division of the country.

Over the weekend, the violence intensified as RSF fighters and allied militias attacked two refugee camps in the Darfur region, leaving at least 300 dead.

The besieged Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps, home to around 700,000 displaced Sudanese, are now grappling with famine conditions, further exacerbated by the ongoing fighting that prevents aid workers from reaching those in desperate need.

The humanitarian situation is dire, with half of Sudan’s population of 50 million facing hunger. The World Food Programme (WFP) has confirmed famine in 10 locations and warned of its potential spread, putting millions at risk of starvation.

Kashif Shafique, country director for Relief International Sudan, the last aid organisation operating in the Zamzam camp, stressed the urgency of the situation. “This abominable conflict has continued for two years too long,” he said, following the deaths of nine of his colleagues in the RSF attack.

Mr Shafique called for international pressure to secure a ceasefire, emphasising the critical need for immediate action. “Every moment we wait, more lives hang in the balance,” he warned. “Humanity must prevail.”