UNICEF and Saudi Arabia Urge Action on Sudan Crisis

Hannan Sulieman, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, informed the United Nations Security Council on June 26, 2026, that Sudan has become the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. He reported that since 2023, over 3.5 million refugees and 6.5 million internally displaced persons have fled, while acute hunger now affects 19.5 million people.

Sulieman highlighted the collapse of essential services, including the loss of half of the country's school buildings. He specifically warned of escalating violence in Al Obeid, where 500,000 civilians are at risk, and noted that the UN has verified over 5,700 grave violations against children. He urged the Council to establish humanitarian corridors in Al Obeid and pressure warring parties toward a negotiated settlement.

During the same session, Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to Sudan's territorial integrity and state institutions. Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Wasel stated that the crisis requires a Sudanese-led political solution and called for the resumption of dialogue based on the Jeddah Declaration. Al-Wasel condemned crimes in El Fasher and the targeting of relief convoys, attributing the humanitarian decline to the failure to implement Jeddah Platform commitments.