Geneva: Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that an estimated 33.7 million people in Sudan will require humanitarian assistance by 2026. This announcement was made during a press conference held in Geneva. Ghebreyesus highlighted the dire situation in Sudan, where nearly three years of continuous violence have displaced approximately 13.6 million people, escalating the crisis to one of the worst humanitarian emergencies globally.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Ghebreyesus expressed concerns over the spread of diseases in Sudan, which are exacerbated by deteriorating living conditions, overcrowding, and a lack of access to safe water sanitation and hygiene services. The collapse of routine immunization programs further compounds the health crisis. He emphasized that over one third of health facilities remain non-functional, despite ongoing efforts by WHO and its partners to restore health services.
Ghebreyesus reiterated WHO's commitment to combating outbreaks of cholera, dengue fever, malaria, and measles in the region. He called for safe and unrestricted access to all areas of Sudan to aid in the restoration of healthcare services and to protect civilians, including health and humanitarian workers and patients, from attacks.
In his closing remarks, Ghebreyesus urged all parties involved in the conflict to cease hostilities, underscoring that "the best medicine is peace."