Escalating Food Security Crisis in Sudan
Sudan is currently grappling with a critical decline in food security, with alarming warnings of impending famine from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. Urgent measures are required to avert this crisis, as time is of the essence in order to save lives and stave off widespread hunger.
Approximately 19.5 million individuals, representing 41% of the nation’s population, are enduring severe levels of acute food insecurity. Among these, around 5 million are facing emergency conditions. If immediate interventions are not implemented, the number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition could surpass the projected figure of 825,000. Furthermore, the number of areas classified as food insecure, initially identified as 14, is anticipated to double in the near future.
Impact of Conflict on Food Insecurity
The ongoing conflict in Sudan is the primary catalyst for the escalating hunger crisis, resulting in the displacement of millions, destruction of essential infrastructure, and disruption of healthcare, food production, supply chains, and markets. This dire situation is further aggravated by systematic barriers to aid access and the adverse effects of El Niño, which have led to diminished rainfall and heightened drought conditions across more than half of the country.
It is imperative that the parties involved in the conflict take responsibility for alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese populace. We strongly urge these parties to remove all barriers hindering humanitarian assistance, facilitate comprehensive and unobstructed access for aid efforts, and ensure the protection of humanitarian workers. If these obstacles remain unaddressed, they will severely impede the humanitarian response required to counteract the threat of famine.
Call for Humanitarian Access and Protection
In practical terms, we call upon the conflicting parties to:
- Authorize humanitarian operations through all crossline and cross-border routes, including air access to Darfur, enabling rapid deployment of aid and medical evacuations for humanitarian personnel.
- Maintain the presence and safety of humanitarian workers throughout Sudan by reducing delays in visa and customs processing, extending the duration of visas and travel permits, and eliminating additional permits and bureaucratic hurdles that impede aid delivery.
- Refrain from targeting civilian infrastructure, particularly agricultural and food systems, which are crucial for providing essential services to the civilian population.
- Enhance civil-military coordination to safeguard humanitarian workers and aid sites.
International Support Needed to Avert Famine
Faced with the looming threat of famine, we appeal to the global community to urgently increase funding to meet the escalating needs and facilitate the delivery of assistance to those most affected. Additionally, we encourage development and financial institutions to adapt their ongoing programmes to address the current food security crisis, focusing on regions with the greatest exigencies. Collective action is essential to avert famine, support the winter cropping season, and bolster locally-led initiatives.
We stand in solidarity with the people of Sudan and the humanitarian organisations tirelessly striving to deliver life-saving assistance under extremely challenging circumstances.