The UN's new humanitarian affairs chief, Tom Fletcher, made an urgent plea during his maiden field visit to Sudan this week, calling for expanded aid access to millions displaced by the country's spiraling conflict.
‘Staggering’ Crisis Demands Global Attention
Fletcher—who replaced Martin Griffiths last week—described Sudan's crisis as one of \"staggering proportions\" during meetings with Sudanese authorities, including Transitional Sovereign Council leader General Burhan. Over 50% of Sudan's population now requires aid, with 20,000 people displaced daily on average, per UN data.
On-the-Ground Realities
The relief chief visited a children's shelter in Kassala, where kids were evacuated due to violence, and a camp for displaced families. \"This isn't just statistics—it's families choosing between starvation and bullets,\" Fletcher later stated in a letter to humanitarian groups.
New Lifeline for Aid Delivery
The World Food Program launched a new flight route from Port Sudan to northern regions, allowing faster aid transfers to critical areas like Al Dabbah. This comes as Fletcher pushes for more cross-border aid corridors and safer access for humanitarian workers.
\"This isn't just statistics—it's families choosing between starvation and bullets,\" Fletcher later stated in a letter to humanitarian groups.
This comes as Fletcher pushes for more cross-border aid corridors and safer access for humanitarian workers.
