FAO receives $12m to address “acute” food insecurity in Sudan

May 31, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has donated $12m to enable the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Sudan to respond to the soaring acute food insecurity exacerbated by the potential impacts of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The grant, FAO said, will support urgent efforts to build the resilience of resource-poor farmers and pastoralists in the 14 severely affected counties.

“This generous contribution from CERF means that FAO can urgently provide essential agricultural inputs to vulnerable farming households before the main agriculture season starts in June,” Babagana Ahmadu, FAO Representative to the Sudan said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

He added, “It will ensure that they can produce enough food to meet their needs for the months to come.”

The agency further stated that it is intensifying efforts to address soaring acute food insecurity in the Sudan which is driven by the combined impacts of armed conflict, drought, COVID-19, and low production of key staple crops related to infestation by pests and diseases and economic turmoil.

At least 10.9 million people, according to the FAO Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan, are expected to need life‑sustaining support in 2022.

In response to the dire food security situation in Sudan, FAO has reportedly launched a new project funded by CERF, which aims to restore the food security and nutrition of affected farming and pastoral communities in the country, through provision of emergency agriculture and livestock supplies.

Meanwhile, FAO said it urgently needs an additional $35 million to ensure adequate support for 2 million vulnerable farming and pastoral households to produce their own food, keep their livestock alive and productive, and strengthen their resilience.

(ST)