Global Courant 2023-05-11 11:48:23
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The grim prospect of record levels of hunger in Sudan is becoming more likely by the day as fierce fighting continues, UN aid workers warned on Wednesday.
In a warning about the situation, the World Food Program (WFP) said it expected between 2 and 2.5 million more people to face acute hunger in the coming months, as a result of the conflict that broke out on April 15 between forces loyal to rival generals Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
This development would raise the already dire food insecurity in Sudan to a “record high”. WFP said, with two-fifths of the country’s population affected.
According to the UN agency, the largest spikes in food insecurity could occur in the states of West Darfur, West Kordofan, Blue Nile, Red Sea and North Darfur.
‘Great’ needs, scarce resources
Meanwhile, UH High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi shared on Twitter that more than 150,000 people have fled Sudan — both Sudanese citizens and refugees being hosted in the country.
“The needs are enormous. Resources are scarce. Urgent help is needed!” Mr. Grandi wrote.
Rising food prices
UN militants expect the price of basic food to rise by 25 percent over the next three to six months.
If the situation in the country prevents farmers from accessing their fields and planting key commodities between May and July, food prices could rise even further, WFP said.
Lifesaving aid
The UN agency has resumed operations in Sudan after a temporary hiatus following the killing of three of its aid workers early in the conflict. As of last week, WFP has reached more than 35,000 people with food aid despite a serious security situation.
The aid is a lifeline for the most vulnerable, including families who have recently fled the conflict, refugees living in Sudan, and internally displaced persons and their host communities.
In total, the agency aims to support 4.9 million vulnerable people in areas where the security situation permits, in addition to “preventing and treating moderate acute malnutrition” for 600,000 children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
WFP also said that the UN Humanitarian Air Services (ONHAS), which it manages, is beginning “regular” air links between Port Sudan and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to enable the “safe transportation of humanitarian and critical front-line aid”.
Support for neighboring countries
The UN agency is also providing emergency food aid to thousands who have fled Sudan to neighboring Chad, South Sudan, Egypt and the Central African Republic amid severe funding shortfalls.
For example, in South Sudan, where more than 40,000 returnees have fled across the border, WFP says it is “crowded for money” and any additional strain on resources could force it to take food and money from others to help newcomers. to support.
This is according to figures from the UN refugee agency. UNHCR‘s data portalthe largest outflow from Sudan went to Egypt, where more than 68,000 Sudanese refugees and nearly 5,000 refugees of other nationalities have fled the fighting.
Last week, the desk appeal filed for $445 million to support the displaced through October.
Assistant chief hears from first-line responders
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, spoke by phone on Wednesday with front-line responders in the capital Khartoum, including doctors and engineers.
Briefing correspondents at the regular briefing in New York, deputy spokesman Farhan Haq, said in the call: “Mr. Griffiths heard firsthand about this community-led humanitarian effort and their courageous efforts to provide food, shelter and emergency medical care amid the ongoing threat of violence and looting.”
He once again praised the resilience and creativity of the Sudanese people and stressed that the UN and partners should continue to support them.
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