The United Nations food agency has issued a stark warning to the warring parties in Sudan, highlighting the serious risk of widespread starvation and death in Darfur and other conflict-affected areas if humanitarian aid is not allowed to reach those in need. The World Food Program's regional spokesperson revealed that over 1.7 million people in Darfur were already experiencing emergency levels of hunger in December, with the situation likely to have worsened since then.
The conflict in Sudan, which erupted in mid-April 2023, has intensified, particularly in urban areas and the Darfur region. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have seized control of most of Darfur, leading to a dire situation in El Fasher, where half a million civilians are trapped amid escalating violence.
The violence in El Fasher and North Darfur has exacerbated the already critical humanitarian needs in the region, with crop production significantly below average levels. The looming lean season between harvests is expected to further exacerbate hunger, with reports of families running out of food stocks and resorting to desperate measures like consuming grass and peanut shells.
The World Food Program has received distressing reports of malnourished children and elderly individuals in displaced persons camps, with recent deaths due to malnutrition. The agency emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian access and safety guarantees for aid workers and convoys to prevent a catastrophic hunger crisis.
Despite having food supplies ready to transport, bureaucratic hurdles and security concerns have hindered the delivery of aid to over 700,000 people in Darfur. The recent killing of aid workers in South Darfur has further underscored the dangers faced by humanitarian organizations operating in the region.
The World Food Program is calling for a concerted diplomatic effort by the international community to address the unfolding crisis and ensure that assistance reaches those most in need. Urgent action is required to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan's conflict zones.
