On Wednesday, United Nations experts warned that both sides of the conflict in Sudan are using starvation as a weapon in the war, accusing foreign governments of providing military support and “complicity” in committing war crimes.
The conflict, ongoing for over a year, pits the Sudanese Armed Forces led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The war, which began in April 2023, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and has caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Four independent human rights experts from the United Nations highlighted that more than 25 million civilians are suffering from hunger and urgently need assistance amid warnings of an imminent famine. The experts, including the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, stated that “both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces are using food as a weapon to starve civilians.”
They focused on the siege of El Fasher, the last city in Darfur outside the control of the RSF, leaving hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped and suffering from severe shortages of food and water.
The experts, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but not speaking on behalf of the international body, said that “the scale of hunger and displacement we are witnessing in Sudan today is unprecedented.”
In their statement, they urged both parties to “stop blocking, looting, and exploiting humanitarian aid.” They added that local efforts to respond to the crisis are hampered not only by unprecedented violence but also by targeted attacks against relief workers.
They stated, “The deliberate targeting of humanitarian workers and local volunteers has undermined relief operations, putting millions at additional risk of famine.” The experts stressed that “foreign governments providing financial and military support to both sides in the conflict are complicit in starvation, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.”
While the experts did not name these countries, they called on the warring parties to agree on an immediate ceasefire and engage in comprehensive political negotiations. They also urged the international community to “accelerate humanitarian action.” They said, “It is essential that the United Nations, international donors, and states expedite efforts to alleviate the suffering of millions of Sudanese facing famine.”
