The United Nations warned on Wednesday that the “already catastrophic situation” in Sudan has worsened since the last Security Council briefing, with famine now a grim reality in several regions of the country.

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), nearly two years of conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have caused immense suffering, turning parts of the country into a “hellscape”.

Edem Wosornu, OCHA’s Director of Operations and Advocacy, told the Security Council that more than 12 million people have been displaced, including 3.4 million who have fled across Sudan’s borders. Over 24.6 million people, representing more than half of Sudan’s population, are experiencing acute hunger.

She also highlighted a collapse of health services, millions of traumatized children deprived of formal education, and relentless patterns of sexual violence across the country.

Despite the widespread starvation and huge humanitarian needs, aid agencies have been forced to suspend operations at Zamzam, Sudan’s largest displacement camp, due to intense fighting.

Over half a million people are currently taking refuge in Zamzam camp, but Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the primary provider of health and nutrition services in the camp, halted its operations on Monday, citing the deteriorating security situation. The World Food Programme (WFP) also confirmed the suspension of voucher-based food assistance following the destruction of the local market.

Wosornu urged the Security Council to take immediate action to ensure all parties in the conflict comply with international humanitarian law and to protect civilians both inside and outside the camp.

Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Office confirmed reports of summary executions in areas that have changed hands, raising serious concerns about potential war crimes.

Sudanese Ambassador Al-Harith Idriss reiterated his government’s commitment to facilitating humanitarian aid and emphasized that Sudan is working towards addressing its political future, amid a conflict that has left millions in need and pushed the nation to the brink of collapse.

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