As Sudan enters its fourth year of civil war, nearly 13 million people have been forced from their homes amid collapsing healthcare and a severe hunger crisis. In response, the Swiss solidarity foundation Chaîne du Bonheur, backed by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SSR), has launched a national fundraising campaign running from October 22 to 29, culminating in a dedicated day of action across all four linguistic regions on Thursday, October 29. Humanitarian organizations are facing a significant funding shortage as Sudan and South Sudan rank among the most food-insecure countries globally, prompting the foundation to launch its appeal for donations on its website.
A Regional Catastrophe Spilling Across Borders
The conflict that ignited in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has metastasized into one of the most severe humanitarian emergencies on the planet. As reported by rts.ch, the resulting food security emergency no longer respects national borders, spilling over directly into neighboring Chad and South Sudan.
Agricultural production has ground to a near standstill. Farmers struggling to harvest their crops face the dual burdens of active civil strife and punishing regional droughts, according to Zonebourse Suisse. In June, the United Nations-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification stated that 5.1 million people in Sudan faced severe hunger.
International Alarms and Accountability Claims
Earlier this week, the United States joined dozens of European and international powers in issuing a stark joint declaration warning of imminent famine across Sudan. The diplomatic statement directly targets the warring factions, demanding that military leadership remove all impediments to humanitarian access.
The declaration was signed by the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, among other countries. The joint statement noted that food security is deteriorating at an alarming rate in Sudan and called on the international community to increase funding while urging financial institutions to adapt ongoing programs to the food security situation. The food security is deteriorating at an alarming rate in Sudan. The risk of famine in the coming months, flagged by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), calls for urgent action,
the US State Department stated in the joint communique, adding that The parties to the conflict bear the primary responsibility for alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people.
The joint appeal also urges parties to maintain the presence and protection of humanitarian workers across Sudan and to refrain from launching strikes against civilian infrastructure.
According to Zonebourse Suisse, the joint appeal urges parties to allow relief operations across front lines and international borders, including crucial air corridors into Darfur. Washington and its allies have accused both the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces of committing severe atrocities, with United Nations investigations pointing to ethnically targeted violence and engineered starvation.
Where Swiss Relief Funds Are Directed
Donations collected through the ongoing campaign on the Chaîne du Bonheur platform are channeled directly to established Swiss partner organizations operating on the ground in Sudan, Chad, and South Sudan.
