UN: Famine, Disease in Sudan Could Lead to 'Countless' Deaths

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Facts

  • The UN has warned that in the war-torn North African nation of Sudan, famine and malnutrition, as well as diseases like cholera and a lack of healthcare, could lead to "countless" deaths if humanitarian action isn't taken.[1]
  • In the capital, Khartoum, 75% of healthcare facilities are reportedly now out of commission, and the country has seen over 20K cases of cholera, resulting in 626 deaths since July. Some 1.4M doses of an oral cholera vaccine have arrived in Sudan, with a rollout expected this week.[1][2]
  • The UN's children's fund said its goal is not only to vaccinate 1.8M people in the hard-hit states of Gedaref, Kassala, and River Nile but to reestablish healthcare facilities and provide access to clean water and sanitation. Children have also reportedly seen 150 of their schools damaged or destroyed.[3]
  • The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has reportedly killed over 20K people and displaced 10M, with 2.4M fleeing to other countries.[1]
  • The UN's warning comes the same day the US announced sanctions against RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo's brother, Algoney Hamdan Dagalo Musa, though the Treasury Department continues to reject calls to sanction Mohamed directly.[1]
  • On Wednesday, 23 member countries of the 47-member UN Human Rights Council voted to extend the body's investigation into alleged human rights violations in the war. While the US, UK, Norway, and Germany voted for a one-year extension, Sudan called the probe "unjust."[4]

Sources: [1]Al Jazeera, [2]Reuters, [3]Vatican News and [4]Barron's.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Council on Foreign Relations. The people of Sudan are helpless in the face of violent warfare, sickness, and famine. If the international community fails to open more humanitarian routes, support local aid groups on the ground — who currently receive a small fraction of what their international counterparts get — and achieve a ceasefire, the situation will only get worse. The UN is right to call attention to this conflict, as billions of dollars are needed to address this crisis.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by World Socialist Web Site and Operation World. As one of the most agriculturally fertile places in Africa, Sudan should not be facing famine. However, thanks to Western intervention, such as the US-backed secession of what is now called South Sudan to gain control of its oil, Sudan has been turned upside down, with warring factions fighting to fill the political vacuum. As Western elites fund bad-faith operations, and rich countries across the world focus solely on Israel and Palestine, the most powerful governments appear to have no desire to fix the mess they've created.

Predictions