The World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a stark warning that the conflict in Sudan, which has been ongoing for nearly 11 months, “could lead to the world’s largest hunger crisis” in a country already experiencing the largest displacement crisis globally.
Cindy McCain, the WFP’s Executive Director, stated that the conflict, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced eight million people, “threatens the lives of millions and poses a threat to peace and stability in the entire region,” according to France-Presse.
“Twenty years ago, Darfur experienced the world’s largest hunger crisis, and the world united to confront it. However, the Sudanese are forgotten today,” McCain continued.
Civilians in Sudan are subjected to daily atrocities, including bombings, infrastructure destruction, looting, rape, forced displacement, and village burnings, affecting the country’s 48 million residents.
McCain emphasized that unless the violence ceases, “the war in Sudan could result in the world’s largest hunger crisis.” According to the WFP, currently, less than “5% of Sudanese can afford a full meal.”
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported that a child dies every two hours in the Zamzam refugee camp in Darfur.
In South Sudan, where 600,000 individuals have fled to escape the war, “one in every five children in border shelters suffers from malnutrition,” McCain highlighted.
An estimated 18 million people in Sudan are experiencing severe food insecurity, with five million on the brink of famine. Meanwhile, humanitarian workers aiding them face significant mobility challenges and a profound funding shortfall.
This escalating crisis underscores the urgent need for international attention and support to address the humanitarian disaster in Sudan and its neighboring regions.
The situation demands a concerted global effort to provide relief and work towards a sustainable resolution to the conflict, ensuring the well-being and security of millions of affected individuals.
