The United Nations (UN) has issued a dire warning, urging Sudan’s warring factions to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to prevent an impending catastrophe of hunger. As per UN reports, up to five million Sudanese people are at risk of experiencing catastrophic food insecurity in the coming months due to an ongoing conflict between rival generals, which has lasted nearly a year and inflicted significant damage to the nation.
Since April of the previous year, the conflict between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, widespread infrastructure damage, and a severe blow to the country’s economy. This prolonged violence has exacerbated food shortages and triggered a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, pushing the nation to the brink of famine.
According to Martin Griffiths, the UN humanitarian chief, approximately 18 million Sudanese are already facing acute food insecurity, a record high during the harvest season. Griffiths warned the UN Security Council in a letter that nearly five million people could slip into catastrophic food insecurity in certain areas of the country in the near future. Alarmingly, it’s estimated that around 730,000 Sudanese children, including over 240,000 in Darfur, are suffering from severe malnutrition.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, emphasized the urgent need for safe, rapid, and sustained access for aid organizations across Sudan, including through conflict zones. Dujarric stressed the critical necessity for a massive mobilization of resources from the international community to address the looming crisis.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has also raised concerns, warning that the ongoing war in Sudan poses a significant risk of triggering the world’s largest hunger crisis. Jill Lawler, the emergency chief of the UN children’s agency UNICEF in Sudan, highlighted the challenges in delivering aid to those in need, despite having sufficient stocks in Port Sudan.
Lawler expressed the staggering scale of needs for children across Sudan, emphasizing that the war is pushing the country toward famine, with hunger being the primary concern expressed by the affected population. Mandeep O’Brien, UNICEF’s representative in Sudan, echoed Lawler’s sentiments, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian aid to prevent further loss of children’s lives.
Hanan Balkhy, the regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO), emphasized the acute needs in Darfur, where most health facilities have been looted, damaged, or destroyed. Despite a Security Council resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, fighting continues unabated.
In light of the crisis, the UN has called for increased financial support for aid operations in Sudan. Alessandra Vellucci, a UN spokeswoman, revealed that the organization had appealed for $2.7 billion to provide aid this year but had only received five percent of that amount so far. As the situation in Sudan deteriorates rapidly, urgent action and support from the international community are essential to prevent further suffering and loss of life.
Comments