Faith Nyasuguta
U.N. humanitarian officials sounded the alarm on Wednesday, highlighting the grim reality of Sudan’s civil war, where almost 18 million people are grappling with crisis-level food insecurity.
Maurizio Martina, deputy director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “Areas with active conflict are recording the most highly food-insecure populations.“
Martina further elaborated during a meeting of the U.N. Security Council, revealing that “nearly nine out of 10 people facing emergency food insecurity — IPC Phase 4 — are in conflict hotspots in the Darfur and Kordofan region, as well as Khartoum and Al Jazirah States,” referring to the Integrated Phase Classification index for hunger.
Edem Wosornu, director of operations for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), painted a grim picture of the future, projecting that “somewhere in the region of around 222,000 children could die from malnutrition.”
A recent assessment by Medecins Sans Frontieres further stressed the severity of the situation, revealing that “one child is dying every two hours from malnutrition” in the Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur.
Martina emphasized that Sudan is facing its worst hunger levels ever recorded during the harvest season, attributing it to the conflict’s devastating impact on crops, displacement of farmers, damage to critical infrastructure, and disruption of access to markets. He warned that the economic crisis, marked by soaring inflation, has compounded the situation.
Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program (WFP), highlighted the urgent need for intervention, stating, “Our efforts to reach these civilians are challenged by the relentless violence and by interference from the warring parties.” He emphasized the need to stop the fighting, secure more funding, and ensure safe access to communities in need.
Despite the dire situation, humanitarian efforts face significant hurdles, with Skau lamenting, “Bureaucratic obstacles are further shrinking the space for humanitarians to operate.”
The U.N. has appealed for $2.7 billion for Sudan this year, but funding remains insufficient, jeopardizing relief efforts. Fighting erupted last April between General Abdel Fattah Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leading to thousands of deaths, mass displacement, and atrocities, particularly in Darfur.
A Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire during Ramadan has been largely ignored, exacerbating the crisis. Sudan now faces the world’s largest internal displacement crisis, with over 6.3 million displaced internally and 1.7 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries.
Martina’s warning was dire: “The outlook for food production in 2024 is bleak.” The situation is urgent, with more than 70% of health facilities in conflict areas non-functional, underscoring the need for immediate international intervention and support.
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