UN Confirms Famine in Sudan Amid Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
Sudan is currently the only country in the world where famine has been confirmed, according to a recent UN report cited by Anadolu Agency.
The humanitarian crisis is described as “staggering,” with severe impacts from ongoing armed conflict, particularly in and around El Fasher in North Darfur State.
Edem Wosornu, director of the operations and advocacy division at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), reported to the Security Council that famine conditions are present in five areas, including Zamzam, Al Salam, and Abu Shouk IDP camps, as well as the western Nuba Mountains. The situation is expected to worsen, with five additional locations projected to face famine by May and a risk of famine in seventeen other areas.
Despite some positive developments, such as a recent UN convoy delivering food supplies to Khartoum, challenges remain in accessing famine-affected areas and expediting humanitarian worker visas. The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in over 20,000 deaths and displaced more than 14 million people since April 2023.
UN officials have called for adherence to international humanitarian law, rapid humanitarian access, and increased funding to address the crisis. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has emphasized the need for local food production to prevent further catastrophe, warning that failure to act could jeopardize millions of lives and regional stability.
