The spectre of famine haunts war-torn Sudan under ongoing restrictions on humanitarian aid
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) issued a warning that suffering due to famine and floods facing millions of displaced people in war-torn Sudan will exacerbate under the current restrictions on humanitarian aid.
“Make no mistake, these conditions will persist and worsen if the conflict and restrictions on humanitarian access continue,” said Othman Belbeisi, IOM’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.
He warned: “Without an immediate, massive, and coordinated global response, we risk witnessing tens of thousands of preventable deaths in the coming months. We are at a breaking point, a catastrophic, cataclysmic breaking point.”
Famine has been officially reported in the Zamzam camp near Al Fasher in North Darfur, and nearly 97% of internally displaced persons (IDPs) suffer from severe food insecurity.
According to the statement, the conflict has displaced over 700,000 people, with the death toll amounting to more than 12,260 civilians and up to 33,000 injuries since April 2023. Furthermore, constant flooding added insult to injury, as it displaced 20,000 others across 11 out of Sudan’s 18 states.
UN spokesman Farhan Haq said in a statement, “The Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply alarmed at the evolving situation in El Fasher, North Darfur, where fierce fighting has been reported between the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces, and elements of the Armed Struggle Movements.”
Conversely, consultations between the U.S. and the Sudanese government ended on Sunday without reaching an agreement regarding the Geneva peace talks invitation, scheduled for August 14.
