The United Nations (UN) has unveiled a $6 billion humanitarian appeal to assist nearly 26 million Sudanese affected by the ongoing conflict, both inside Sudan and in neighbouring countries.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced this in a statement on Monday.

The statement announced the launch of the 2025 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan and the Regional Refugee Response Plan, requiring $6 billion to assist nearly 21 million people inside Sudan and up to 5 million refugees in neighboring countries.

“Sudan is a humanitarian emergency of shocking proportions,” Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher was quoted in the statement as saying

“Famine is taking hold. An epidemic of sexual violence rages, with children being killed and injured. The suffering is appalling. But our plan is a lifeline to millions,” Mr Fletcher said.

The statement said the nearly two years of conflict have displaced a staggering 12 million people in Sudan and across borders.

It also noted that nearly two-thirds of Sudan’s population is in urgent need of emergency assistance, while the country faces widespread famine.

Refugees arriving in neighbouring countries are in dire need of support, exacerbating already stretched local resources.

Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since mid-April 2023.

As a result of the conflict, over 29,683 fatalities were reported by the end of 2024, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a crisis monitoring group cited by the United Nations.

However, many research groups said the real death toll could be far higher.

(Xinhua/NAN)