Sudan: Over Half the Population Faces Acute Hunger, Says UN
One in every two Sudanese is struggling to put enough food on their plates every single day
Sudan faces a dire crisis, with more than half of its population suffering from acute hunger, according to Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In a statement delivered on Thursday, he said, “More than half the population, that is 26 million human beings in Sudan, now face acute hunger, including 755,000 people facing catastrophic conditions, with hunger-related deaths also being recorded.”
The latest report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) indicates that catastrophic hunger conditions have been forecast for the first time in the history of IPC surveys in Sudan, Mr. Dujarric noted.
He also revealed that fourteen regions in the country have been declared “at risk of famine” in the coming months. “One in every two Sudanese is struggling to put enough food on their plates every single day.” he added.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is ramping up its emergency response to save more lives by increasing aid and identifying innovative and effective ways to provide immediate assistance to millions across Sudan, especially in hard-to-reach areas, according to Mr. Dujarric.
“WFP warns that we are in a race against time to stop famine in its tracks,” he emphasized, highlighting the urgent need for a massive funding increase to scale up assistance to the required level to avert famine.
The UN and its partners caution that more people in Sudan will be pushed towards catastrophic levels of hunger if the ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023, does not cease.
Source: UN
