The escalating war in Sudan has created a humanitarian catastrophe that could rival, or even exceed, the refugee crises sparked by conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Somalia combined, according to Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
He warns that millions more may be forced to flee, potentially creating a refugee crisis reminiscent of 2015.
Since April 2023, Sudan’s military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in brutal combat. The violence has displaced millions to neighboring countries, caused widespread famine, and left international aid agencies largely powerless due to blockades imposed by both factions. As global attention focuses on other conflicts, Sudan’s dire situation remains overlooked and underreported.
Egeland minced no words in criticizing the global response: “This is really outrageous… The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is greater than the [crises in] Ukraine, Gaza, and Somalia together.” After visiting Sudan’s Darfur region, one of the areas hardest hit by violence, Egeland described scenes of devastation: entire villages razed, homes looted and torched, and civilians subjected to horrific violence, including executions and sexual assaults.
Egeland painted a bleak picture: “24 million lives are at stake. We are experiencing a relentless countdown to famine, despair, and the collapse of an entire civilization.” He emphasized the urgency of international action, declaring, “If we all agree that human life is worth the same amount all over the world, then Sudan should now be at the top of our list.”
The NRC leader also highlighted alarming statistics from recent months: more than 2,500 people killed, over 250,000 displaced, and countless communities devastated by indiscriminate attacks. He described Sudan in 2024 as “burned earth,” teetering on the edge of complete collapse.
Egeland called for immediate and decisive action to prevent further suffering. He criticized delayed responses and insufficient diplomatic efforts, urging the global community to step up before it’s too late. Without swift intervention, the crisis could spill far beyond Sudan’s borders, sparking another wave of mass migration and deepening human misery.
