Sudan war displaces millions as coalition urges rivals to lift aid barriers

A young Sudanese refugee prepares a meal next to her shelter in the Farchana refugee camp, on April 7, 2024. [AFP]

A coalition of governments and international organisations has called on Sudan's warring parties to remove obstacles blocking humanitarian aid, warning that famine and malnutrition are worsening.

The group, known as the African, Levant and Partner States (ALPS) coalition, includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States (US), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN). It said civilians are paying the highest price in the ongoing conflict.

"The coalition is appalled by the continuous deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Sudan, including the growing number of people facing severe malnutrition and famine," said the statement on Wednesday, August 20.

Sudan's warring factions are the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted into conflict in April 2023 over a power struggle after the 2019 overthrow of Omar al-Bashir.

The war has killed more than 150,000 people and displaced over 14 million, creating the world's largest displacement crisis and a catastrophic hunger emergency.

The fighting shows no sign of ending, with foreign involvement complicating peace efforts.

ALPS urged both sides to allow aid agencies safe passage, protect civilian infrastructure and restore telecommunications.

It also pressed them to open key supply routes into Darfur and the Kordofan regions and to extend the Adre crossing.

"With the situation worsening and humanitarian needs reaching critical levels, urgent action is needed to protect civilians and guarantee aid access," the coalition noted.