Under the scorching heat, families traverse a dry, dusty path into Chad, fleeing the brutal civil war and famine engulfing Sudan. This humanitarian disaster has drawn the attention of the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who visited the Adré border post to witness the impact of the ongoing crisis.
The conflict in Sudan erupted when the country’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) clashed in April 2023, unleashing waves of violence. Refugees recount harrowing tales of separation, loss, and survival as they cross into Chad. Many arrive weary, clutching what little they could carry, searching for missing loved ones.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the plight as “some of the most horrific things I’ve ever heard and seen in my life.” He added, “Overwhelmingly, women and children are fleeing for their lives, sharing stories of widespread slaughter, mutilation, burning, and sexual violence. Amongst it all, there’s famine and hunger creating unbelievable suffering.”
Families Torn Apart by Violence
Halima Abdalla, a 28-year-old mother from Darfur, shared her devastating experience. “I first fled to el-Geneina but had to run again when fighting broke out,” she said. Halima tragically lost one of her children and remains separated from her husband and two other children.
Aid workers stationed in Adré are working tirelessly to reunite families. Some parents, unable to carry all their children, were forced to make heartbreaking choices. Many abandoned children have been placed in foster care while humanitarian workers search for their families.
Health Crisis and Aid Struggles
The influx of refugees has overwhelmed the small town of Adré, whose population has grown from 40,000 to over 200,000. Malnutrition rates among children are alarmingly high, with clinics reporting one in seven children severely malnourished. Six-month-old Rasma Ibrahim is one of the many children battling life-threatening hunger, as aid agencies struggle to meet rising demands.
In 2024, the United Nations launched a $2.7 billion appeal to support Sudan’s humanitarian crisis. However, only 57% of the funds were raised. Lammy emphasized the urgency of the situation, urging donor countries to increase their support. The UK has doubled its aid to £200 million, but a global effort is needed to address this catastrophe.
International Efforts to Broker Peace
Lammy criticized the global response, calling it a “hierarchy of conflict” that has left Sudan neglected despite being the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. He condemned Russia’s veto of a UN ceasefire resolution in November and pledged to convene a meeting with Sudan’s neighbors and international partners to broker peace.
Meanwhile, the United States has imposed sanctions on leaders of both warring factions and determined that RSF forces have committed genocide. The conflict has displaced over 12 million people, with half of Sudan’s population requiring humanitarian aid.
The Dire Need for Action
At the food distribution center in Adré, families queue for basic supplies like millet, sorghum, and cooking oil. The cries of infants echo through the air as volunteers distribute rations. While aid trickles in, it remains woefully insufficient to meet the needs of millions.
The famine in Darfur, declared in August, has spread to more areas, exacerbating the crisis. Despite challenges, aid workers continue to deliver supplies to remote villages and displacement camps. As Lammy noted, “We must step up and wake up to this huge, huge crisis.”
