The United Nations’ International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has raised alarms regarding the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan, citing famine and severe flooding as exacerbating factors amidst an ongoing civil war. In a recent warning, the IOM highlighted that the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has reported famine conditions near Al Fashir in northern Darfur. This region is grappling with severe food shortages, affecting half a million displaced individuals, leading to widespread malnutrition and loss of life. Furthermore, since June, heavy rains have caused flooding across 11 states in Sudan, displacing thousands and worsening the situation for those affected by the conflict.
The IOM’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Othman Belbeisi, emphasized that the dire conditions will persist and worsen if the conflict continues and humanitarian access remains restricted. For more details on the IOM’s statement, visit their official release.
Sudan is currently facing one of the most severe hunger crises globally, with 10 million people displaced and an estimated 2.5 million at risk of dying from hunger by September 2024. Since April 2023, a civil war between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has ravaged the country, particularly affecting the capital Khartoum and the Darfur region. The RSF has been accused of perpetrating ethnic cleansing, massacres, and genocide against the Masalit ethnic group, along with committing various war crimes including widespread sexual violence. For an overview of these allegations, refer to this report.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs notes that 65 percent of Sudan lacks adequate medical care, with thousands of children killed by the conflict and millions more at risk of malnutrition and lack of education. The comprehensive impact of the Sudanese conflict and humanitarian crisis has been documented, providing a stark reminder of the escalating needs and urgent calls for international aid. More information can be found in the UN’s latest report.
For additional insights and details on the current humanitarian situation in Sudan, the original article can be read on JURIST.