Sir, – Irish development and humanitarian organisations are coming together with an urgent message – a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in Sudan. We must act now. Over 500 days of relentless conflict have devastated the country and created the largest humanitarian catastrophe in the world.
Twenty-six million people are in danger due to the devastation of conflict and hunger, with ongoing conflict, blockages to humanitarian aid, displacement and destruction of services, leaving over nine million children food insecure.
Famine has been declared in North Darfur, and over 700,000 children under five are at risk of dying from starvation.
We are in a race against time to prevent a widespread famine from taking hold.
We urgently need the political will to end this conflict, allow access for humanitarian assistance, and increase funding to restore health and basic services. With only 41 per cent of the global appeal for funding for Sudan currently being met, humanitarian funding needs to be scaled up urgently.
Irish humanitarian and development organisations are gathering today because we believe that Ireland has a critical voice. Our commitment to reaching those left furthest behind, and highlighting the need for peace, justice and ending hunger, is needed now more than ever.
At this year’s UN General Assembly and at the EU, Ireland needs to push for urgent political action and a full-scale effort to end hostilities in Sudan and create unfettered access for humanitarian response.
We must act swiftly and decisively for an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the conflict that upholds the rights of the Sudanese people. – Yours, etc,
JANE-ANN McKENNA,
CEO,
Dóchas,
Dublin 8.