The United Nations food agency has issued a warning about the risk of widespread starvation and death in Sudan, particularly in the Darfur region, if humanitarian aid is not allowed into the area. Leni Kinzli, spokesperson for the World Food Program, highlighted the emergency levels of hunger experienced by 1.7 million people in Darfur in December, with the number expected to be even higher now. The ongoing conflict in Sudan has escalated, with tensions between the military and paramilitary forces leading to street battles in Khartoum and spreading to other areas of the country.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, have gained control of most of Darfur and are besieging El Fasher, the only capital in the region that they do not hold. The situation in El Fasher is described as extremely dire, with reports of bombings and shelling making it difficult for civilians to flee the violence. Crop production in Darfur has been severely impacted, leading to a significant decrease in staple cereals like wheat, sorghum, and millet. The upcoming lean season between harvests is expected to worsen hunger levels as food stocks run out.
Recent reports from the ground in Darfur have shown severely malnourished children and elderly individuals who are on the brink of starvation. The lack of assistance reaching these vulnerable populations has resulted in deaths due to malnutrition, with people resorting to consuming grass and peanut shells to survive. The World Food Program is calling for urgent diplomatic efforts to ensure access and safety guarantees for humanitarian staff and aid convoys. The conflict in Sudan has created an unprecedented hunger crisis, impacting millions of people across the region.
Despite having food supplies ready to move in Chad, the World Food Program is facing restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles that prevent aid delivery to over 700,000 people in Darfur. The revocation of permission to deliver aid from Chad to certain areas of Darfur, as well as restrictions on transportation via specific routes, is hindering the organization’s efforts to reach those in need. The killing of aid workers in South Darfur has been condemned as unconscionable, further highlighting the dangers faced by humanitarian staff in conflict zones. Urgent access and security guarantees are needed to prevent widespread starvation and death in Darfur and other conflict-affected areas.
The international community is being urged to intervene and pressure the warring parties in Sudan to allow humanitarian access and ensure the safety of aid workers. With almost 28 million people facing food insecurity in Sudan, South Sudan, and Chad, the conflict in Sudan has the potential to trigger a massive hunger crisis. The World Food Program emphasizes the urgent need for unrestricted access and security guarantees to deliver assistance to those in desperate need in Darfur. The ongoing fighting and bureaucratic obstacles are preventing aid from reaching vulnerable populations, leading to increased suffering and loss of life.
