The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Wednesday the suspension of food and nutrition aid in Sudan’s famine-stricken Zamzam displacement camp due to rising violence.
Intense fighting in the North Darfur region has forced the WFP to halt its vital operations, leaving thousands of displaced families at risk of starvation.
“The situation has become untenable,” the agency stated, citing the need to ensure staff safety after evacuations.
Clashes between the General Burhan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensified over the past two weeks.
The violence has caused widespread destruction, particularly in Zamzam, which shelters over half a million displaced individuals.
Laurent Bukera, WFP’s regional director for Eastern Africa, expressed urgent concerns: “Without immediate aid, thousands in Zamzam could face death by hunger in the coming weeks.”
Bukera emphasized the need for an end to the violence and the restoration of security to deliver aid effectively.
The famine, which was declared in Zamzam in August, has now spread to nearby camps.
A UN-backed assessment predicts it will affect more areas, including the North Darfur capital of El-Fasher, by May.
Zamzam camp, which has been in operation since 2004, has long served as a refuge for Sudanese displaced by ongoing conflict.
Prior to this escalation, approximately 1.7 million people were displaced in North Darfur, with two million facing severe food insecurity.
