El Fasher faces famine as 800,000 trapped in the worn-torn North Darfur , WHO warns
July 16, 2024 (GENEVA) -The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday that 800,000 people in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, are facing a dire humanitarian crisis, trapped without adequate food, water, or medical care amidst growing fears of famine.
Dr Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative to Sudan, issued an urgent alert highlighting the dire situation in El Fasher, where heavy fighting between rival military factions has made access to the city “completely impossible.”
Since May 10th, El Fasher has been the site of fierce battles between the army and its allied armed movements against the Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has resulted in numerous civilian casualties, widespread displacement, and extensive damage to infrastructure.
Also, the ongoing fighting has severely hampered humanitarian efforts and left vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers, suffering from acute hunger and lacking essential medical care.
The WHO has called on all parties involved in the conflict to uphold international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians, aid workers, and essential infrastructure, including hospitals. Dr. Sahbani emphasized the urgent need for immediate access to El Fasher and other affected areas to avert a further deterioration of the health situation.
The latest warning from the WHO underscores the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where the ongoing conflict continues to wreak havoc on the lives and well-being of millions of people. As peace talks continue in Geneva, the international community faces the challenge of addressing the urgent needs of those trapped in the crossfire and finding a lasting solution to the conflict.
The fighting in El Fasher has resulted in widespread displacement and suffering among the displaced people who had already fled the other SRF-controlled states in Darfur to El Fasher.
During a recent assessment mission to Chad, Sahbani was deeply affected by stories of Sudanese refugees fleeing hunger and famine. They emphasized that their primary reason for leaving was not insecurity or lack of services, but simply the lack of food.
One woman recounted how armed fighters had seized their locally produced food, forcing her and her children to walk for three days without food to reach safety in Chad.
Sahbani noted that the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) continues to negotiate with warring parties to allow the delivery of aid. He mentioned seven trucks carrying relief supplies from Kordofan to Darfur and expressed optimism about cross-border aid operations due to positive signals from all parties involved.