Antonio Guterres on Wednesday marked the third anniversary of Sudan’s war as a “tragic milestone”, urging an end to what he described as a deepening nightmare.
Speaking via video to international donors gathered in Berlin, he said the conflict had shattered a nation once seen as full of promise.
He described the war as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with millions displaced and essential services collapsing under the weight of sustained violence.
Guterres warned that credible allegations of grave international crimes continue to emerge, casting a dark shadow over the conflict’s human toll.
He said women and girls have faced terror, while systematic sexual violence and widespread abuses have devastated families and entire communities across the country.
The consequences, he added, extend beyond Sudan’s borders, fuelling instability and insecurity across a fragile and volatile region.
Calling for urgent action, Guterres demanded safe and unhindered access for humanitarian workers struggling to reach those most in need.
He urged donors to fully fund relief operations, while stressing that financial support alone cannot bring an end to the suffering.
“Peace is the only answer,” he said, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities between the warring parties.
He also pressed for an end to external interference and the continued flow of weapons that have prolonged and intensified the conflict.
