- ‘The situation keeps growing in size and volume, not only for those in the country, but also for the millions of refugees that have left Sudan,’ says Youssef
- Neglecting crises in places such as Sudan or DR Congo creates ‘irreversible humanitarian trends that will take years and years to solve,’ warns ICRC official
ANKARA
The humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan has reached a breaking point and the world’s silence is part of the problem, according to a senior Red Cross official.
More than two years after fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), millions remain displaced and trapped amid famine, disease, and violence.
“There is a clear situation of neglect of this war that has led to this point,” Patrick Youssef, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)’s regional director for Africa, told Anadolu. “The international community needs to pay much more attention.”
Since April 2023, the conflict has killed over 20,000 people and displaced more than 15 million, according to UN estimates. The RSF’s recent assault on El-Fasher in Darfur has become one of the war’s darkest chapters, with reports of horrific atrocities by its fighters, including summary executions and mass killings and rapes.
Countries around the world have vehemently condemned the RSF’s actions, while the UN, International Criminal Court (ICC) and other major organizations have warned of mounting suffering for civilians.
Earlier this week, the ICC prosecutor said the “mass killings, rapes, and other crimes” by the RSF may constitute “war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
Youssef urged all “fighters to respect the Geneva Conventions, the laws of war, Islamic law, and every tradition in Sudan … to preserve the lives of civilians, including women and children, and those seeking medical attention.”
He warned that the escalating violence is deepening a regional crisis.
“In Al-Jazira and many parts of Darfur, the situation keeps growing in size and volume, not only for those in the country, but also for the millions of refugees that have left Sudan to settle in Egypt, Chad, Ethiopia, and many other countries in the region,” he said.
“There are certainly fears in countries where the humanitarian situation is already difficult, like in the east of Chad … and hence, it requires a collective effort.”
“This is a call for the international community to never stop its support to the Sudanese, but also to address the regional aspect of the Sudan conflict,” he added.
Collapsing health system and invisible suffering
Youssef painted a grim picture of life inside Sudan, describing a country where public services have almost ceased to exist.
Some 85% of hospitals and medical facilities are “either stopped, halted, or empty of human resources,” he said, noting that even in cities like Nyala, only a handful of facilities – including the Turkish Hospital – remain functional with ICRC support.
He cited cholera outbreaks across Kordofan and Khartoum that have already infected more than 100,000 people, conditions that “could have been immediately handled” if the Health Ministry had been able to coordinate with aid agencies.
The Red Cross official also highlighted the plight of those “we don’t see” – people detained or trapped in inaccessible areas, and families suffering from hunger or untreated medical conditions.
There are people who are malnourished and do not have access to food, or those in El-Fasher who have particular medical conditions, such as dialysis or specific treatments, he said, stressing that each and every Sudanese in this region is affected by the conflict.
Aid under siege
Humanitarian workers themselves have not been spared. The ICRC and Red Crescent volunteers have lost team members in the line of duty, Youssef said, describing the dangers of operating amid relentless airstrikes and shifting frontlines.
Still, he emphasized that the organization continues to deliver aid where possible. “We will never go to an area without notifying, without informing everyone on the road leading to that location where the ICRC is going and why,” he said. “We will not venture into uncharted territories to deliver assistance.”
Youssef, who attended the TRT World Forum in Istanbul before visiting the capital Ankara, praised Türkiye’s engagement in Africa and its ongoing cooperation with the ICRC and the Turkish Red Crescent.
“Türkiye has a very strong presence in Africa, which has indeed a legacy of support and bilateral cooperation,” he said.
He added that discussions with Kizilay focused on how to “find long-lasting solutions” and strengthen cooperation between humanitarian organizations working across the continent.
‘Irreversible humanitarian trends’
Youssef also drew parallels between Sudan and other crises on the continent, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where years of conflict have displaced millions.
An ICRC study in September “shows that 85% of hospitals (in DR Congo) have no access to continuous medication,” he said.
He welcomed renewed international mediation, including US and Qatari-led efforts, and urged all armed actors in DRC “to take intentional decisions to protect civilian populations and minimize the harm and the risks.”
Respecting humanitarian law, he said, is “not only a necessity but also a moral responsibility.”
Dialogue processes, he noted, must involve local actors. “That’s why I have called several times for having African solutions to African problems, which is happening today with the presence of Togo, the African Union, and some mediators like the former president of Ethiopia.”
Youssef warned that neglecting crises in Sudan or DR Congo creates “irreversible humanitarian trends that will take years and years to solve.”
He cautioned that new conflicts could erupt if the world turns away again, citing places such as Nigeria, around Lake Chad, or the Sahel region.
Ending on a note of cautious hope, Youssef pointed to Africa’s resilience. “With the richness of the continent, its people and its generosity, there are so many ways to get out of crisis,” he said. “But that can only happen if the parties to all the wars truly respect the Geneva Conventions.”