The UN humanitarian chief has urgently called for immediate international intervention to address the escalating crisis in Sudan. This appeal comes as the situation worsens, with millions suffering from the effects of ongoing conflict and displacement.

The United Nations humanitarian chief has urgently called for immediate international intervention to address Sudan's escalating crisis, emphasizing the immense suffering of millions displaced by ongoing conflict.

During a nine-day visit to Sudan and Chad, Tom Fletcher engaged with refugees, pledging to amplify their voices and advocate for increased global support. "We are not invisible," he conveyed, echoing the plea of those affected by the crisis.

Sudan has been mired in war since April 2023, with clashes between the regular army, led by Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces under Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and displaced over 11 million people, marking what the United Nations describes as the worst humanitarian crisis in recent history.

While visiting El-Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, Fletcher met with the regional governor and listened to "heart-rending stories" from refugees fleeing the violence. "It is a tough situation out there, the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world. And I've been talking to local people to host communities," he said in a statement released by the UN on Saturday.

Earlier in his trip, Fletcher visited the Adre crossing on the Sudan-Chad border after UN aid deliveries were extended for three more months in early November.

In Chad, Fletcher met with host community representatives near the border, describing Adre as "a lifeline for desperately needed aid to reach people in Sudan." Speaking directly to refugees, Fletcher acknowledged their dire situation: "I know that the situation is very, very hard. I know that you need food and medicine and education and shelter and pride and dignity."

Approximately 26 million people – nearly half of Sudan's population – now face the threat of mass starvation. Both warring factions have been accused of using hunger as a weapon of war.

"These numbers are staggering, and we cannot turn our backs," Fletcher declared, urging the world to act decisively.