The humanitarian disaster unfolding in Sudan is fast becoming one of the worst in recent memory, according to stark warnings from the United Nations. Civilian strife has led to mass displacement and an escalating food crisis, with little international intervention in sight.
Edem Wosornu, a senior official from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, disclosed to the UN Security Council the depth of the crisis: “By all measures – the sheer scale of humanitarian needs, the numbers of people displaced and facing hunger – Sudan is one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory.” Sudan’s population is mired in “desperation,” with over eight million people displaced and the threat of famine looming.
The country’s conflict, which erupted in April last year, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths. Clashes between the army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), under Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, have not only taken lives but have pushed the nation towards an unprecedented hunger crisis. Over 18 million Sudanese, nearly half of the country’s population, are now facing acute food insecurity—this is 10 million more than the previous year.
The gravity of the situation is further underscored by the deputy executive director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), Carl Skau, who emphasized the urgency of concerted action: “If we are going to prevent Sudan from becoming the world’s largest hunger crisis, coordinated efforts and joined-up diplomacy is urgent and critical.”
Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has reported that the conflict’s impact on food and nutrition has been “devastating,” with around 20.3 million individuals in Sudan facing severe hunger. The situation is further worsened by market disruptions and soaring food prices, making access to essential goods an enormous challenge.
In Darfur, the violence has caused additional displacement, leading to thousands of people sleeping under trees by the roadside, struggling to find shelter. Dominique Hyde of the UNHCR, having just returned from visiting the affected regions, painted a dire picture of the humanitarian needs and despair she witnessed.
Notably, the conflict has extended to Al Jazirah state, a crucial agricultural hub, compounding food security concerns as farmers are prevented from tending to their crops, and basic commodities’ prices skyrocket.
The magnitude of the crisis is so severe that the UN warns of a potential famine, with parts of Darfur facing the highest stage of acute food insecurity by May. The UN Mission in Sudan, UNITAMS, has condemned the RSF and allied militias for their indiscriminate targeting of civilians and has documented all violations, indicating they may constitute war crimes.
Funding remains a critical issue, with only a fraction of the required billions for humanitarian assistance secured. This shortfall hampers the capacity of aid organizations to provide the necessary support, with the WFP and other agencies unable to meet the escalating needs due to “relentless violence and interference by the warring parties.”
Relevant articles:
– Sudan crisis one of the ‘worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory’: UN
– Sudan now ‘one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent memory’: UN, ABC News, Thu, 21 Mar 2024 12:27:41 GMT
– FAO raises alarm on escalating food crisis in Sudan, UN News, Thu, 03 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT
– Conflict in Sudan Growing in Scope, Brutality as World Remains Silent, Voice of America – VOA News, Tue, 07 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT