The United Nations’ relief chief issued a scathing rebuke to the international community on Monday, warning that the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan is being fueled by a global "lack of action" despite a clear understanding of the scale of the crisis. An unprecedented 33.7 million people, including more than 20 million children, currently require assistance and protection as a result of the war, which began more than three years ago.
In his briefing to the Security Council, Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, told the world body that while the international community is well aware of the situation on the ground, the necessary political and financial response has failed to materialize.
Fletcher warned that the humanitarian situation has reached a breaking point. He stated that more than two-thirds of Sudan’s population is currently in "desperate need of lifesaving support."
He highlighted a disturbing trend of aerial warfare, noting that 1,400 civilians were killed in the first half of this year alone, with "the vast majority, more than 1,100, caused by drone strikes."
Fletcher specifically identified North Kordofan’s town of El Obeid as a site of heavy bombardment, where drones are targeting markets, fuel stations, and "vital power and water infrastructure." The strikes have forced 15,000 families into the city since mid-July, further straining already depleted services.
The humanitarian crisis is also expanding geographically. Fletcher reported that renewed fighting in Blue Nile State has displaced thousands in the face of heavy rains, with the region now hosting more than 370,000 displaced people. Some of these residents have fled into Ethiopia, a consequence of what Fletcher described as a "stark reminder of how this war is spilling across Sudan’s borders."
Furthermore, the UN relief chief expressed concern over a cholera outbreak in West Kordofan and intensifying violence in the Nuba Mountains, where humanitarian facilities have been "breached and looted" and aid workers have been detained.
While the UN has made progress in reaching those in urgent need, Fletcher warned of significant gaps in both delivery and funding. By mid-year, humanitarian teams reached nearly 11 million people—52 percent of the prioritized target.
Despite the mounting obstacles—including "front lines, drone attacks, insecurity, and bureaucratic red tape"—UN humanitarians have prioritized those in the most catastrophic conditions and successfully reached 1.7 million people in the "catastrophic intersectoral severity category," surpassing the initial target of 1.5 million.
“We are on track with our effort to reach 11.4 million people with food, but off track on education, health, shelter and water,” he said.
However, Fletcher warned that the scale of the required intervention is being undermined by a massive funding shortfall. To date, only 41 percent of the US$2.87 billion required for the "hyper-prioritized plan" has been secured.
The situation for refugees is even more dire, with only 17 percent of the $1.59 billion Regional Refugee Response Plan to support displaced people and host communities in seven neighboring countries being met.
In a blunt closing to his briefing, Fletcher bypassed his usual requests “to uphold international humanitarian law, fund the response, and help end the conflict,” choosing instead to challenge the Council’s own efficacy.
"Sudan does not suffer from a lack of analysis. It suffers from a lack of action," Fletcher told the Council.
He underscored the disparity between the needs of the Sudanese people and the international response, stating that the people of Sudan "need food, water and medicine. Yet the world sends drones, weapons and mercenaries."
“The people of Sudan need sustained, courageous diplomacy. Yet the world is too often indifferent and distracted,” he stressed.
“The people of Sudan need peace and dignity. Yet others use Sudan's land and people as pieces in a regional struggle for power, gold and pride,” referring to those nations who profit from the ongoing war.
Fletcher concluded by urging the Council to move beyond its role as an observer of the tragedy, asserting that "the tragedy of Sudan is not that we do not know what to do. It is that we have not yet found the will to do it."
The world's largest humanitarian emergency
As Sudan's Armed Forces (SAF) continue to battle the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia for control of this vast country, the nation is facing the world's largest humanitarian emergency. An estimated 33.7 million people — nearly two-thirds of Sudan's population, including over 20 million children — currently require assistance and protection due to the war.
Intense fighting broke out on April 15, 2023, between the SAF and the RSF in the capital city of Khartoum. The violence quickly escalated and spread across Sudan, forcing millions to flee their homes. The conflict began as a power struggle between the SAF and the RSF and has resulted in the collapse of healthcare, food systems and civilian protection nationwide.
With more than 14 million people forced to flee, Sudan is experiencing the world's largest displacement crisis. Of those displaced, around 9 million remain within Sudan's borders, while almost 5 million have fled to neighboring countries due to ongoing warfare and previous conflict.
This war is being waged with unprecedented brutality against civilians, particularly in the Darfur and Kordofan regions. The RSF, in particular, has been implicated in mass killings and rape as a means of warfare. However, both warring parties have been accused of grave war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Rapid Support Forces have also been accused of genocide.
Furthermore, Sudan is currently experiencing the world's most serious hunger crisis. Nearly 20 million people in the country are facing acute hunger, including 5 million in emergency conditions. It is projected that the number of people facing catastrophic hunger will increase from 135,000 to 200,000 between June and September.
Further information
Full text: UN relief chief tells Security Council Sudan suffers from “a lack of action”, briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Sudan by Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, delivered on August 24, 2026
https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-tells-security-council-sudan-suffers-lack-action