Sudan faces looming famine as hunger soars despite harvest season
April 8, 2024 (KHARTOUM) – April 8, 2024 (KHARTOUM) – $581.2 million are urgently needed to accelerate humanitarian assistance and prevent further deterioration of alarming food insecurity, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Food Security and Livelihood Cluster (FSL) said Tuesday.
The joint report sheds light on the dire food security situation in war-torn Sudan.
The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis revealed a shocking reality: 17.7 million people were facing acute hunger during the recent harvest season (October 2023 – February 2024), a time typically associated with food security. This alarming number underscores the devastating impact of ongoing conflict, intercommunal violence, and the nation’s macroeconomic crisis.
“The situation is critical,” said a spokesperson for the joint statement. “Soaring prices of food, fuel, and essential goods, coupled with below-average agricultural production due to conflict, insecurity, and climate shocks, have created a perfect storm of hunger.”
With the lean season approaching in May, a period of historically low food availability before the next harvest, the situation is expected to worsen significantly. The number of acutely food insecure people is projected to rise dramatically.
The statement emphasizes the urgent need for action to prevent further deterioration. A particular focus is on 29 localities across eight Sudanese states – Central Darfur, Khartoum, North Darfur, North Kordofan, South Darfur, South Kordofan, West Darfur, and West Kordofan. These areas are already classified in the most severe “Emergency” phase (IPC 4) and are at high risk of slipping into a catastrophic state.
“Urgent access is needed to these 29 localities and the resources required to assist the populations,” the statement stressed. “Without immediate action, these areas face the very real possibility of famine.”
The UN agencies are calling on the international community to step up its support for Sudan, providing both humanitarian assistance and resources to address the root causes of food insecurity. Only through a combined effort can the looming famine be averted and a path towards long-term food security be established.
(ST)