The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that more than 25 million Sudanese, representing over half of the country’s population, are facing severe levels of food insecurity according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis conducted between late April and early June 2024.
Approximately 755,000 people are experiencing catastrophic levels of food insecurity, while 8.5 million individuals suffer from acute food shortages accompanied by high levels of malnutrition. There are 14 areas at risk of famine, including regions in Darfur, Khartoum, Jazeera, and internally displaced persons and refugee settlements. These represent the worst levels of acute food insecurity ever recorded in Sudan by the IPC.
This marks a sharp and rapid deterioration in food security compared to the previous update from December 2023. The IPC had previously warned that more people would face high levels of acute food insecurity unless there was an immediate cessation of hostilities and ensured access to humanitarian aid.
Conflict has significantly escalated in recent months, spreading to other areas among armed factions, resulting in increased organized violence, mass displacement, disruption of essential health services, and hindrance to humanitarian access. This has led to a deterioration in food security and nutrition in Sudan.
Nutritional deficiencies make people more vulnerable to diseases, particularly affecting children, where the combination of malnutrition and illness can be deadly.
Urgent measures are therefore needed to prevent famine, restore humanitarian access, and ensure protection for health facilities and workers. The Sudanese people deserve health and peace.
