Sudan's Devastating Crisis Still Overlooked After a Year of War

April 15 marks one year since conflict between rival military leaders broke out in Sudan. Half of the country's 50 million people urgently need humanitarian assistance. Over 8.6 million people are displaced within Sudan and in neighbouring countries - the world's worst displacement crisis. Many Sudanese have fled across the border into Chad, including those from Darfur - where news organizations and aid agencies are warning of a return to the widespread genocide and mass rapes in Darfur that began in 2003.

"Time is running out," WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says in an AllAfrica guest column. "Without a stop to the fighting and unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian aid, Sudan's crisis will dramatically worsen in the months to come, with implications for a large region."

Meeting in Paris, the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and its Neighbours, hosted by France, Germany and the European Union, is focusing on what can be done to pressure the warring parties to end the conflict and how to mobilize resoiurces needed to address the humanitarian needs.

"The international community can prevent famine from taking hold in Sudan - but only with immediate action,"  Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Chief, said in an urgent appeal asking "will the world act before it's too late?"

A Sudanese mother and her children take refuge in a town in Chad across the border from Darfur in Sudan.

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