Nearly 19.5 million people in Sudan are still suffering from severe hunger, according to a new report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
The report said more than 40 per cent of Sudan’s population is facing acute food insecurity as the country’s prolonged conflict continues to fuel what humanitarian agencies describe as one of the world’s worst hunger crises.
According to Reuters, the three-year war has caused mass displacement, widespread famine, economic collapse and the destruction of agricultural systems, with around 14 million people displaced.
Although the latest IPC estimate is slightly lower than the previous figure of 21.2 million released in autumn, the report warned that 14 areas in North Darfur, South Darfur and South Kordofan remain at risk of famine.
It said around 135,000 people are experiencing “catastrophic” hunger levels, including in the cities of El Fasher and Kadugli, both of which were previously declared famine zones.
The report noted that the Rapid Support Forces took full control of El Fasher last October after a prolonged siege, while the Sudanese army later broke the siege imposed on Kadugli.
The IPC also warned that drone warfare is increasingly replacing ground offensives in Sudan, while fighting continues in Kordofan and Blue Nile State.
The report said insecurity, restricted humanitarian access and funding shortages are expected to leave approximately 825,000 children suffering from acute malnutrition.
It further warned that the upcoming rainy season, which coincides with Sudan’s agricultural planting season, is likely to worsen conditions and disrupt aid delivery routes even further.
