Today's top news: Sudan, Iran

People fill barrels of water in southern Khartoum on 22 April, 2023, amid water shortages caused by the ongoing fighting. AFP

Sudan

After ten days of fighting, shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel are becoming extremely acute, especially in Khartoum and surrounding areas.

The price of essential items – as well as transport – are skyrocketing. Our humanitarian partners tell us that in Wad Madani—in Aj Jazirah state, which borders Khartoum—prices of basic goods have risen by 40 to 100 per cent.

Access to health care—including sexual and reproductive health care— is also critically impacted. The World Health Organization has confirmed 14 attacks on healthcare facilities since the start of the fighting.

We have also received reports that civilians continue to be displaced in Khartoum, Northern, Blue Nile, North Kordofan, North Darfur, West Darfur and South Darfur states. People are also crossing borders to surrounding countries.

We and our partners continue to deliver whenever and wherever feasible.

The UN Population Fund continues to support partners on the ground to provide life-saving health care, distribute supplies for safe births and to manage obstetric emergencies through a network of midwives.

We also want again to emphasize the heroic efforts of the Sudanese people themselves. Civil society networks are responding to the most urgent needs in their communities, including mobilizing medical assistance, distributing food and water, and assisting civilians.

Iran

The Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths is in Tehran today, at the invitation of the Government of Iran.

Mr. Griffiths held meetings with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian; and Deputy Minister Ali Asghar Khaji. They discussed the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen, as well as recent developments in the region.

The USG also met with the Deputy Minister of Interior and head of the National Disaster Management Organization, Dr. Mohammad Hassan Nami. Mr. Griffiths reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to the people of Iran and welcomed growing collaboration with Government entities and partners on disaster preparedness and response.