Famine and Conflict Push Sudan Towards Catastrophe
Sudan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis as famine and ongoing warfare push millions towards starvation. The conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces has led to significant food insecurity, with many families resorting to severe measures in order to survive. Aid organizations have been forced to withdraw, worsening the situation as corruption and misallocation of resources persist.
The crisis in Sudan, particularly within the Darfur region controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has escalated to alarming levels as millions face starvation. The ongoing conflict has compelled several aid organizations to withdraw due to violence and significant barriers to delivering humanitarian assistance, severely impacting food availability in affected areas.
Taysir Sabri relayed the devastating effects of this hunger crisis on her family from Omdurman, situated west of Khartoum. Her youngest child, aged three, has resorted to eating dirt due to iron deficiency, while her family relies on occasional employment from her husband, a former truck driver. “We eat once a day, only when my husband finds work,” she lamented, highlighting the dire circumstances.
As hostilities continue between Sudan’s national army and RSF, approximately 24.6 million people—roughly half the population—are experiencing acute food insecurity. U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric affirmed the presence of famine conditions in at least five regions, where families are forced to consume inedible food items, such as peanut shells mixed with oil that is typically meant for livestock, revealing the severity of the situation.
The Zamzam camp serves as a microcosm of this crisis, housing around a million displaced individuals, with many more arriving from devastated neighboring villages. An aid worker disclosed that food arrives infrequently and at exorbitant prices, while Doctors Without Borders recently suspended operations at Zamzam due to escalating violence, furthering the humanitarian plight.
In Khartoum State, the situation is deteriorating as well, with armed confrontations restricting access to basic supplies. According to community volunteer Duaa Tariq, severe malnutrition affects approximately half of the children tested in the area. “Many people will die of hunger in the coming days and weeks,” she warned, emphasizing the acute urgency of the humanitarian crisis.
The economic repercussions of the conflict are profound, with the prices of essential goods like flour and sugar skyrocketing. The freezing of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funding—specifically a decision made during the Trump administration—has further hindered emergency response efforts, adversely affecting donation-based food aid initiatives critical for survival.
Compounding these challenges, corruption has permeated aid distribution efforts, with reports indicating that considerable portions of humanitarian assistance are misappropriated. Moukhtar Atif, spokesperson for emergency response centers in Bahri, commented on the systemic issue, revealing that 50 percent of aid is seized by the government and redirected toward military or regime affiliates.
Volunteers working on the ground also face substantial risks, becoming targets of both factions amid accusations of bias. Tragically, at least 63 aid workers have lost their lives, demonstrating the dangerous atmosphere for those attempting to alleviate suffering amid the conflict.
Since the outbreak of hostilities in April 2023, Sudan has endured over 20,000 casualties and 14 million displaced, with some estimates indicating that the actual death toll may be closer to 130,000, highlighting the somber realities of the ongoing crisis.
The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is dire, exacerbated by ongoing conflict, skyrocketing food prices, and significant barriers to aid delivery. Millions are facing starvation, with corruption further complicating the allocation of necessary resources. As violence continues, it is imperative for the international community to respond to this urgent humanitarian challenge to alleviate suffering in the region.
Original Source: international.la-croix.com
