On Monday, the United Nations’ top relief official issued a plea to end telecommunications blackouts in Sudan, citing their severe impact on accessing essential services, facilitating fund transfers, and impeding humanitarian aid efforts.
UN Undersecretary-General Martin Griffiths, who oversees relief efforts, condemned the ongoing blackouts as “unacceptable” and called for immediate restoration of network access throughout the conflict-ridden nation.
Echoing Griffiths’ concerns, Tedros Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, warned that these disruptions are severely hampering health operations in Sudan.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted the critical timing of these blackouts, coinciding with unprecedented humanitarian needs in Sudan. With nearly 25 million people requiring assistance this year, OCHA stressed the urgency of addressing the situation.
OCHA recently launched the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, aiming to provide life-saving aid and protection services to approximately 14.7 million people within Sudan. However, the effectiveness of these efforts is significantly compromised by the ongoing telecommunications disruptions.
The civil war that erupted last April between Sudanese military factions, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, has escalated, affecting multiple states, including the vital Al Jazirah state, known as the breadbasket of Sudan, and severely impacting agricultural production.
Recent assessments by OCHA indicate that approximately 18 million people are facing acute food insecurity, a staggering increase of 10 million compared to last year.
Moreover, the International Organization for Migration, a UN agency, reported last month that around 9 million individuals have been displaced within Sudan due to the conflict, while an estimated 1.7 million have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, underscoring the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis.
