UNWarnsof Imminent Hunger Catastrophe in Sudan's Darfur Region

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has issued an urgent warning that time is running out to prevent widespread starvation and death in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region. The dire situation, described as an "unprecedented hunger catastrophe," is unfolding as intensifying clashes in North Darfur's capital, El Fasher, hinder critical efforts to deliver vital food assistance.

Why this matters: The unfolding crisis in Darfur has far-reaching implications for regional stability and global food security, as it could lead to a massive influx of refugees and displaced persons, putting a strain on neighboring countries and international resources. If left unchecked, the humanitarian disaster could also exacerbate existing conflicts and spark new ones, perpetuating a cycle of violence and instability in theregion.

According to the WFP, at least 1.7 million people in Darfur are already experiencing the highest levels of hunger and food insecurity, classified as IPC4 or IPC5 on the internationally recognized Integrated Phase Classification scale. The recent surge in violence in El Fasher is exacerbating the critical humanitarian needs in the region, leaving hundreds of thousands more at risk.

Leni Kinzli, the WFP spokesperson in Sudan, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating,"Time is running out to prevent starvation in Darfur... Our calls for humanitarian access to conflict hotspots in Sudan have never been more critical. "The WFP has 8,000 tons of food supplies ready to move in Chad but is unable to transport them due to access constraints and the escalatingconflict.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have encircled El Fasher, with airstrikes and shelling further exacerbating the hunger emergency. An estimated 1.5 million residents, including 800,000 internally displaced persons, are trapped in the city as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) remain besieged by the RSF. Analysts at the Yale University Humanitarian Research Lab have tracked the intentional burning of 23 communities north and west of El Fasher in the past five weeks, raising fears of atrocities similar to the genocide carried out by Arab Janjaweed fighters against African ethnic groups in Darfur in the early2000s.

The WFP had planned several convoys from Chad to deliver assistance to 700,000 people across Darfur, but these efforts have been suspended due to the fighting in El Fasher. Two critical border crossings used by humanitarians to reach Darfur from Chad have been closed, further hindering aid deliveries. The international community is urged to use this moment to pull RSF forces back and create a humanitarian envelope to allow aid to be delivered, particularly before the rainy seasonstarts.

The situation in Darfur is dire, with 330,000 people in El Fasher facing crisis levels of food insecurity due to shortages and soaring prices. In Zamzam camp, a displacement camp in North Darfur, 30% of children are suffering from acute malnutrition, while 8% are suffering from life-threatening severe acute malnutrition. "People are resorting to consuming grass and peanut shells, and if assistance doesn't reach them soon, we risk witnessing widespread starvation and death in Darfur and across other conflict areas in Sudan,"warnedKinzli.

As the conflict in Sudan enters its second year, the humanitarian crisis in Darfur continues to worsen. The international community must act swiftly to prevent a catastrophic loss of life. Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the Yale University Humanitarian Research Lab, stressed the need for immediate action, stating,"We have to use this moment to pull RSF forces back and to create a humanitarian envelope in which aid can be delivered — first in El Fasher and then into the interior of Darfur."

Key Takeaways

• 1.7 million people in Darfur face severe hunger and food insecurity.
• Intensifying clashes in El Fasher hinder critical food assistance deliveries.
• 330,000 people in El Fasher face crisis levels of food insecurity.
• People are resorting to eating grass and peanut shells due to food shortages.
• Immediate action is needed to prevent widespread starvation and death in Darfur.