Khartoum, April 11 (NationPress) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has urged the conflicting parties in Sudan to safeguard civilians and ensure the smooth delivery of humanitarian assistance to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian crisis in the nation.

In a report published on Thursday, the ICRC emphasized that the protection of civilians and unrestricted humanitarian access are legal obligations that are essential to avert further crises. The report referenced the Jeddah Declaration signed by the warring factions in 2023, which called for adherence to international humanitarian law.

The ICRC expressed concern that a severe disregard for international humanitarian law principles has fueled the crisis, while a significant decline in humanitarian funding poses additional risks of exacerbating the situation, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Approximately 70-80 percent of health facilities in areas impacted by conflict are reportedly non-operational, leaving two-thirds of civilians without access to healthcare.

This situation results in mothers giving birth without professional assistance, children missing essential vaccinations, and individuals suffering from life-threatening conditions being deprived of treatment, the ICRC stated.

The organization further cautioned that the remaining 20 percent of hospitals and clinics are grappling with acute shortages of medications, equipment, and trained medical personnel.

“The international community must not abandon Sudan. The lives of millions and the stability of an entire region are at risk,” stated Daniel O'Malley, head of the ICRC delegation in Sudan, urging for enhanced “concerted diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives.”

The report highlighted alarming trends since the onset of the war, such as hindrances to emergency healthcare and incidents of violence against hospitals and other critical civilian infrastructures, including looting, vandalism, physical assaults on medical staff and patients, and the denial of healthcare services to civilians.

As of December 2024, the ICRC has recorded nearly 7,700 requests for assistance in locating missing individuals, which, while only a small fraction of the total missing, already represents a 66 percent increase compared to its caseload at the end of 2023.

Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a catastrophic conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Forces, resulting in at least 29,683 deaths, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a crisis monitoring organization cited by the United Nations.

The ongoing conflict has displaced over 15 million individuals, both within and outside of Sudan, according to estimates from the International Organization for Migration.