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After 20 months of relentless conflict, Sudan stands shattered, its people bearing the brunt of unceasing violence and instability. The civil war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces militia, has spiraled into a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe, with dire consequences that extend far beyond the borders of Sudan.

The scale of the devastation in Sudan is staggering. New research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine that the death toll in Khartoum state alone has surpassed previous estimates for the entire country, with more than 61,000 deaths reported from April 2023 to June 2024. Violence has claimed more than 26,000 of these lives, underscoring the intensity of the conflict. The UN reports that Sudan has now become the epicenter of the world’s worst hunger crisis, with millions teetering on the brink of famine. Starvation 100 lives daily.

Among the most vulnerable are children, with nearly 5 million of them displaced and stripped of any semblance of normality. Families are to flee incessantly, their lives reduced to a desperate search for safety in a country where more than 8.1 million people remain internally displaced — the largest such crisis globally.

Displacement brings with it a litany of challenges: overcrowded shelters, lack of access to clean water, inadequate sanitation and the constant threat of disease outbreaks. Health infrastructure has crumbled under the weight of destruction, with hospitals looted or bombed and medical supplies running dangerously low.

Unless financial and logistical support increases dramatically, millions will face preventable deaths

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh

In addition, the risks extend beyond hunger and displacement. Gender-based violence has to alarming levels. Reports of sexual violence, intimate partner abuse and child marriage have tripled, painting a harrowing picture of the disproportionate toll the conflict is taking on women and children.

Before the war, Sudan already faced economic instability marked by inflation and widespread poverty. Now, the conflict has exacerbated these conditions, nearly half the population unemployed, decimating public services and slashing the value of the Sudanese pound by 50 percent.

The international response to Sudan’s crisis appears to be profoundly inadequate, falling far short of what is necessary to address the humanitarian disaster. Aid organizations warn that, unless financial and logistical support increases dramatically, millions will face preventable deaths. Immediate priorities include securing food supplies, restoring health services and providing safe shelter to displaced populations.

Financial aid must be scaled up significantly to bridge the widening gap between needs and resources. The UN and global donors must coordinate their efforts to deliver sustained funding for emergency relief operations. Equally vital is the need for technical and logistical support to ensure that aid reaches even the most inaccessible regions, where suffering often goes unnoticed.

Beyond humanitarian assistance, the international community must intensify its diplomatic engagement. The conflict in Sudan cannot be resolved through relief efforts alone; it demands political solutions. Countries and blocs with influence in the region, particularly the US, the EU and neighboring African nations, must leverage their power to bring the warring factions to the negotiating table. Pressure must be applied to end the hostilities, establish humanitarian corridors and pave the way for a durable peace process.

A critical step toward resolving the crisis lies in enforcing the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan. Signed by both the military and the Rapid Support Forces, this agreement clear obligations under international humanitarian law to safeguard civilians and humanitarian operations. However, its terms remain largely unenforced, allowing atrocities to persist unabated.

The UN Security Council must take decisive action to ensure compliance with the Jeddah Declaration

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh

The Jeddah Declaration provides a framework for mitigating the conflict’s impact on civilians. Among its key commitments are measures to ensure safe passage for displaced persons, protect medical personnel and facilities, and respect humanitarian corridors. It also explicitly prohibits the use of civilian areas as battlegrounds and calls for the evacuation of urban centers to minimize harm. It also demands an end to looting, forced disappearances and the recruitment of child soldiers.

If fully implemented, the declaration could serve as a lifeline for millions of Sudanese civilians. It offers a chance to stabilize the situation, allowing humanitarian agencies to operate without interference and civilians to access essential services. However, its success hinges on robust enforcement mechanisms.

The UN Security Council must take decisive action to ensure compliance with the Jeddah Declaration. This includes appointing an international monitoring body to oversee its implementation and holding violators accountable. Last month’s Russian veto of a resolution to establish such a mechanism the geopolitical challenges at play. However, the international community cannot afford to let political gridlock impede the pursuit of peace.

The Jeddah Declaration is not merely a theoretical agreement, it represents the only viable path toward ending Sudan’s devastating conflict because it balances immediate humanitarian needs with long-term goals for stability and reconciliation. The declaration directly addresses the conduct of combatants and the protection of civilians, creating a foundation for meaningful progress.

Moreover, enforcing the declaration would signal a shift in global priorities, reaffirming the international community’s commitment to upholding human rights and protecting vulnerable populations. Its implementation would set a precedent for addressing other protracted conflicts, demonstrating that even in the most challenging circumstances, adherence to international humanitarian law is nonnegotiable.

In summary, as millions of Sudanese face starvation, displacement and violence, the world must not stand idly by. The scale of human suffering demands an urgent and coordinated response that combines financial aid, humanitarian relief and diplomatic pressure. At the heart of these efforts lies the Jeddah Declaration, a blueprint for ending the conflict and alleviating the suffering of Sudan’s people. Its enforcement is not only a moral imperative but also a practical necessity for achieving peace. The time for action is now.

• Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian American political scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh