Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has condemned the brutal killings and worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan, calling for an urgent political solution to end the two-and-a-half-year war. Speaking during the opening of the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha on Tuesday, the Emir expressed deep sorrow over the suffering of Sudanese civilians, saying peace was the foundation of any meaningful social development.
“I cannot conclude this address without pointing to our collective shock at the horror of the atrocities committed in Al-Fashir,” Sheikh Tamim said. “Sudan has lived through the horrors of war for over two years. The time has come to stop it and reach a political solution that ensures the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Sudan.”
His remarks came as the United Nations issued a grim update on the humanitarian situation, confirming famine conditions in several parts of Sudan, including El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, and Kadugli in South Kordofan.
According to the UN’s latest hunger assessment, about 21.2 million Sudanese, nearly half the population, are facing severe food insecurity, while famine has already taken hold in some besieged areas. The crisis has been made worse by continuous fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday renewed his appeal for an immediate ceasefire, urging both sides “to come to the negotiating table to end this nightmare of violence.” He warned that millions remain trapped without food, water, or medical care as infrastructure collapses under the weight of war.
The fall of government-held El Fasher last week after more than 500 days of siege has triggered fresh displacement. Over 18,000 civilians have fled the city in recent days, joining more than 12 million people already displaced across Sudan and neighbouring countries.
While some regions have seen slight improvements due to better harvests and reduced fighting, the UN cautioned that these “fragile gains” could easily collapse if the violence continues. Outbreaks of cholera, malaria, and measles are also rising rapidly.
In his speech, Sheikh Tamim reminded world leaders that social progress is impossible amid war and injustice. “Without peace, there can be no development,” he said.
