Africa

NPR -  Sudan, one of Africa’s largest countries, is facing the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis after fighting erupted almost 18 months ago. Millions of people have been displaced as the ruling Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, the paramilitary group that once supported them, fight for control of the country. With the world’s attention focused on conflict elsewhere, the war in Sudan has struggled to get attention for the disaster, which has been made worse by how hard it is to access the country. 

The scale of destruction is hard to believe. In places, it’s almost apocalyptic, NPR’s Emmanuel Akinwotu, who managed to enter Sudan, tells Up First. The streets are littered with people’s belongings, chairs are covered in bullet holes and a once iconic, vibrant market is a ghost town. The scale of need is immense. Half of the population is acutely hungry and parts of the country are facing famine. People are not getting aid largely because of the lack of safe routes. But even if there were routes, the amount of aid isn’t enough. Akinwotu says there is a common feeling from people that the world doesn’t care and they have to rely on themselves.