NEW DELHI: The chief of the United Nations' World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was shocked by the world's insufficient action to stop the crisis in Sudan after visiting a children's hospital caring for malnourished infants in Port Sudan.

At a press conference, Ghebreyesus urged the world to "wake up" and help the war-stricken country as if faces multiple crises.

Civilians in Sudan are facing worsening famine, mass displacement and disease after 17 months of war, aid agencies say.

U.S.-led mediators said last month that they had secured guarantees from both parties at talks in Switzerland to improve access for humanitarian aid, but that the Sudanese army's absence from the discussions had hindered progress.

"Sudan is suffering through a perfect storm of crises. Over 500 days of conflict, the largest level of displacement in the world, famine in some parts and risk of this in others, 25.6 million people, over half of Sudan's population, are expected to face high-levels of acute food insecurity," Ghebreyesus said.

The WHO Chief said the people of Sudan were struggling though flooding, dam bursting, diseases including cholera, malaria, dengue, measles, the risk of Mpox, conflict-related sexual violence and a near collapse of the country's entire health system.

Sudan's infrastructure was already in disrepair before the war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Forces which began in April 2023.

Both sides have since funnelled the bulk of their resources into the conflict, leaving infrastructure badly neglected and a healthcare system in disarray.