WHO chief calls for safe access to Sudan amid ongoing war
“WHO calls for unrestricted and safe access to all areas of Sudan to restore access to health services,” Tedros stated during a press briefing in Geneva.
He warned that ongoing violence has left the nation in crisis. "Last Friday marked one-thousand days of Sudan’s civil war. Almost three years of continuous violence have turned Sudan into the worst humanitarian crisis globally," he said.
Tedros reported that an estimated 33.7 million people will require humanitarian assistance this year, with 13.6 million displaced, making Sudan home to “the largest displacement crisis” in the world.
He highlighted that overcrowding, inadequate living conditions, limited access to safe water and sanitation, and disruption of routine immunizations are driving outbreaks of disease. WHO is currently aiding efforts to address cholera, dengue, malaria, and measles, he said, while noting that the health system itself has been gravely weakened.
"Just when the people of Sudan need it most, the health system has been severely damaged, through attacks on health care, lack of essential medical supplies, and shortages of health workers and funding," Tedros emphasized.
Despite attempts to restore services, "more than one third of health facilities remain non-functional," he added.
The WHO chief also urged all parties to protect civilians, including health and humanitarian personnel and patients, and to bring an end to the conflict.
"As always, the best medicine is peace," he concluded.
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