The United Nations food agency has issued a dire warning to the conflicting parties in Sudan, particularly in Darfur and other regions, regarding the imminent risk of widespread starvation and death if humanitarian aid is not allowed into these areas.
Leni Kinzli, the regional spokesperson for the World Food Program, emphasized that as of December, at least 1.7 million individuals in Darfur were facing emergency levels of hunger, a figure that is likely significantly higher today. She stressed the urgent need for humanitarian access to conflict zones in Sudan, stating that the situation has never been more critical.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been in turmoil, marked by escalating tensions between the military under Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces under Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. This conflict erupted into street battles in Khartoum and has since spread to other urban areas and the Darfur region.
The RSF has seized control of most of Darfur and is currently besieging El Fasher, the only capital in Darfur not under their control, where approximately 500,000 civilians have sought refuge. The situation in El Fasher is described as "extremely dire," making it difficult for civilians to flee the reported RSF bombings and shelling.
Kinzli highlighted the impact of violence on the region's humanitarian needs, noting that crop production for staple cereals in Darfur is 78% lower than the five-year average. She also expressed concerns about the upcoming lean season between harvests, which typically starts in May but appears to have begun earlier this year, leading to increased hunger.
Reports from partners on the ground indicate severe malnutrition among children and older people in displaced camps in Central Darfur. Kinzli warned that without urgent assistance, there is a risk of widespread starvation and death not only in Darfur but also in other conflict-affected areas in Sudan.
Kinzli called for a concerted diplomatic effort by the international community to pressure the conflicting parties to allow access and safety guarantees for humanitarian staff and convoys. She emphasized that the conflict in Sudan has already created an unprecedented hunger crisis, affecting nearly 28 million people across Sudan, South Sudan, and Chad.
However, bureaucratic hurdles and fighting have prevented WFP from delivering aid to over 700,000 people in Darfur ahead of the rainy season when many roads become impassable. Despite having 8,000 tons of food supplies ready to move in Chad, WFP is unable to do so due to these constraints.
Kinzli reiterated the urgent need for unrestricted access and security guarantees to deliver assistance. She emphasized the necessity of using the Adre border crossing and moving aid across front lines from Port Sudan to Darfur to reach people in this desperate region.