Sudan stands on the precipice of humanitarian catastrophe, with nearly 18 million people grappling with acute food insecurity, warns the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP). This grim reality comes ten months into a conflict that has ravaged the nation, displacing millions and pushing its agricultural heartlands towards devastation.
“Less than five percent of Sudanese can afford a square meal a day,” declares Eddie Rowe, WFP’s Sudan country director. This staggering statistic paints a picture of a nation teetering on the brink of mass starvation. The ongoing war between the military and the Rapid Support Forces has displaced 10.7 million people internally and across borders, creating “the world’s largest displacement crisis,” according to the UN.
“Continued conflict, stalled harvests, and rampant displacement,” warns Rowe, “risk plunging millions more into a catastrophic disaster.” With nine million internally displaced and access to many regions hampered by fighting, a clear picture of the crisis’ full extent remains elusive.
“Close to five million people are on the precipice of catastrophe,” declares Rowe, referring to the second-worst food security classification, just shy of famine. Aid groups have issued repeated warnings of impending famine, but hampered access and severe underfunding hinder efforts to alleviate suffering.
“The availability of data to confirm or deny famine thresholds is a major issue,” states Michael Dunford, WFP’s Eastern Africa regional director. He highlights the limited reach of aid, with WFP only able to assist 10% of those in need. “Large tracts of the country are simply inaccessible,” he laments.
Sudan’s most fertile regions, crucial for fending off famine, are now engulfed by the conflict. “Thousands of farms have been deserted as people flee,” says Rowe. With the lean season – when food prices skyrocket before the next harvest – approaching, the future appears bleak.
“This is a country on the verge of collapse,” warns Dunford. The combination of conflict, displacement, and a crippled agricultural sector paints a chilling picture of a nation in desperate need of international support to avert a full-blown catastrophe.
