Untenable Humanitarian Catastrophe in Sudan — Why Canada Must Act Now

Cooperation Canada is deeply alarmed by the rapidly worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan. Since April 2023, relentless fighting between the warring parties has plunged the country into one of the world’s most severe and overlooked crises. As the violence escalates and human suffering deepens, we call on Canada and the international community to take urgent, coordinated and concrete action to protect civilians and uphold humanitarian principles.

As highlighted by Humanity & Inclusion Canada and Inter Pares during the Senate Committee on Sudan on November 20, the crisis in Sudan demands immediate global attention and political action – and Canada can do more. Recent reductions in Canada’s international assistance budget raise concerns about the country’s ability to sustain an effective and principled humanitarian response at a time of sharply escalating needs.

In Sudan, more than 25 million people are enduring severe hunger, with several regions on the brink of famine. 13 million people have been forced to flee their homes, making this the largest displacement crisis in the world – including close to 6 million children, the largest child displacement crisis globally. At the same time, over 3 million children are acutely malnourished. And women and girls face heightened risks of gender-based violence, exploitation and abuse.

The collapse of Sudan’s health system has left millions without life-saving care, while reports of attacks on civilians, including children and obstruction of humanitarian access raise grave concern. Such acts represent serious violations of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law and must not go unanswered.  The report of large-scale civilian harm in El Fasher further underscores the devastating human cost of inaction and the urgent need for stronger accountability and arms control.

The suffering of the Sudanese people is not only immense, it is preventable. We therefore call on Canada to take decisive action in response to this escalating crisis.

• We urge the Government of Canada to work closely with partners and leverage its global leadership to: Increase and extend flexible, multi-year funding for the Sudan humanitarian response; extend UN Security Council arms embargo to cover the entire Sudanese territory; apply collective diplomatic pressure on all direct and indirect parties to the conflict to secure an immediate and permanent ceasefire; promote the operationalization of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 to ensure participation and leadership of women in all peace processes.
• Canada should advocate for the removal of bureaucratic barriers hindering humanitarian access, including visa and movement restrictions and the protection of civilians.
• We call on Canada to strengthen accountability within its arms trade regime by considering measures proposed in Bill C-233 aimed at closing existing gaps and preventing arms transfers that may contribute to serious violations of International Humanitarian Law and human rights law, as determined by the UN mechanisms.

The people of Sudan cannot wait.

Canada must act – through sustained diplomacy, principled humanitarian leadership and responsible arms-trade regulation – to help restore safety, dignity and hope for millions of civilians caught in this devastating crisis.

Notes to Editors

• Cooperation Canada is the national voice for Canadian international development and humanitarian organizations. Representing over 100 organizations, we convene, coordinate and advocate for effective, inclusive and accountable international cooperation that contributes to a fairer, safer and more sustainable world.

Media Contact

Gabriel Karasz-Perriau, Senior Communications Manager
gkaraszperriau@cooperation.ca
(514) 945-0309