The US, Canada and more than two dozen partners warn that 19.5 million people face acute food insecurity in Sudan….reports Africa Daily News Desk
The United States, Canada and more than two dozen international partners have warned that Sudan faces a growing risk of famine, with 19.5 million people experiencing acute food insecurity, and called on the country’s warring parties to remove restrictions preventing humanitarian aid from reaching civilians.
In a joint statement circulated by the US State Department on Monday, the governments said 41 per cent of Sudan’s population was facing high levels of food insecurity. Of those affected, five million people were experiencing emergency levels of hunger.
The warning was originally issued on October 23 and endorsed by the United States, Canada, Britain, the European Commission, Australia and several European governments.
The signatories cautioned that the humanitarian situation could deteriorate sharply in the coming months unless assistance reached vulnerable communities without delay.
“There is no time to lose to save lives and prevent famine,” the joint statement said.
The governments also warned that the number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition could exceed the projected 825,000 if conditions continued to worsen. The number of areas facing serious food insecurity, initially assessed at 14, could also double, they said.
The figures were based on international food security assessments cited in the statement.
The continuing armed conflict was identified as the principal driver of Sudan’s hunger crisis. Fighting has displaced millions of people, damaged essential infrastructure and disrupted healthcare services, agricultural production, food distribution networks and local markets.
Restrictions on humanitarian assistance and adverse weather conditions have further aggravated the situation. The governments highlighted the effects of El Niño, including reduced rainfall and worsening drought across more than half of Sudan.
The international partners called on all parties to the conflict to allow humanitarian organisations to operate safely across front lines and international borders.
They specifically demanded air access into Darfur, where insecurity and logistical restrictions have complicated relief operations. Improved access would enable aid agencies to deliver emergency supplies more quickly and evacuate humanitarian personnel requiring medical treatment.
The statement also urged the removal of administrative obstacles that delay relief operations, including lengthy visa procedures, customs clearance delays, additional travel permits and taxation requirements affecting humanitarian organisations.
The governments called for longer visa validity periods and simplified travel authorisations to help aid workers maintain operations in affected areas.
They further urged armed groups to refrain from attacking civilian infrastructure, particularly agricultural facilities and food production systems, which are essential to restoring food supplies and supporting livelihoods.
The signatories called for an urgent increase in international humanitarian funding to prevent the crisis from worsening. They also urged development banks and financial institutions to adjust their programmes to respond to Sudan’s deteriorating food security situation.
Particular emphasis was placed on supporting the winter cropping season, which could help revive agricultural production, strengthen local food supplies and reduce dependence on emergency assistance.
The statement also highlighted the importance of strengthening locally led humanitarian responses to ensure that aid reaches communities most in need.
The governments stressed that the parties involved in the conflict bore primary responsibility for protecting civilians and ensuring humanitarian assistance could be delivered safely and without obstruction.
Sudan has been engulfed in fighting since April 2023, when conflict erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The war has devastated communities, displaced millions of civilians and severely weakened public services.
Darfur has been among the regions hardest hit by violence, displacement and restrictions on humanitarian operations.
The latest warning underscores growing international concern that continued fighting, limited aid access and worsening food insecurity could push more communities towards famine unless urgent action is taken.
