The United Nations has issued a dire warning about worsening famine in Sudan as ongoing violence pushes millions deeper into crisis.
“Nearly two years of relentless conflict in Sudan have inflicted immense suffering and turned parts of the country into a hellscape,” said Edem Wosornu, director of operations and advocacy at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Addressing the UN Security Council, Wosornu revealed that more than 24.6 million people are facing acute hunger, with conditions deteriorating rapidly.
She highlighted the intensifying violence around the Zamzam displacement camp, home to hundreds of thousands, where famine conditions have already been confirmed.
“Satellite imagery confirms the use of heavy weaponry in and around Zamzam in recent weeks, along with the destruction of market facilities within the camp,” she warned.
Civilians, including humanitarian workers, remain trapped in North Darfur, unable to flee as the conflict escalates.
At least two aid workers have been killed in recent clashes, further hindering relief efforts and worsening the humanitarian catastrophe.
Doctors Without Borders, the main provider of health and nutrition services in Zamzam, has been forced to halt operations due to security concerns.
The World Food Program has also suspended food assistance in the camp, leaving thousands without vital supplies.
Wosornu urged immediate international intervention to protect civilians, ensure humanitarian access, and secure critical funding for relief efforts.
“The people of Sudan deserve better, from their leaders and from the international community,” she declared.
Since April 2023, Sudan’s war between the General Abdel Fattah al Burhan-led troops and the Rapid Support Forces has claimed over 20,000 lives and displaced 14 million people.
However, research from U.S. universities suggests the true death toll may be as high as 130,000.
