In a warning about the situation, the World Food Program (WFP) says it expects between two and 2.5 million more people face acute hunger in the coming months, as conflict broke out on 15 April between forces loyal to rival Generals Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
This development will cause severe food insecurity in Sudan “record high”, WFP said, with 2/5 of the country’s population affected.
The largest spike in food insecurity is likely to occur in the states of West Darfur, West Kordofan, Blue Nile, Red Sea and North Darfur, according to the UN agency.
Demand is ‘huge’, resources are scarce
Meanwhile, UH High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi shared on Twitter that more than 150,000 people have now left Sudan – both Sudanese citizens and refugees organized in the country.
“The demand is huge. Resources are scarce. Aid is needed, urgent! Mr. Grandi wrote.
Food prices increase
Humanitarian organizations of the United Nations expect the prices of basic food items to 25 percent increase in the next three to six months.
The WFP said that if the situation in the country prevents farmers from accessing their fields and growing staple foods from May to July, food prices could rise even higher.
life-saving aid
The United Nations agency has resumed its operations in Sudan, following a pause following the killing of three of its aid workers at the start of the conflict. Since last week, and despite the dire security situation, WFP has reached over 35,000 people with food assistance.
This aid is a lifeline for the most vulnerable, including families who have recently fled conflict, refugees living in Sudan and internally displaced persons and host communities. their.
Overall, the agency aims to assist 4.9 million vulnerable people in areas where the security situation allows, in addition to “Prevention and treatment of moderate malnutrition” for 600,000 children under 5 years old and pregnant and lactating women.
WFP also said the United Nations Humanitarian Aviation Service (UNHAS), which it manages, is starting “regular” air connection between Port Sudan and Addis AbabaEthiopia, to enable the “safe transportation of frontline humanitarian workers and critical aid”.
WFP staff oversee emergency food distribution at a refugee camp in Sudan.
Support neighboring countries
The UN agency is also providing emergency food assistance to thousands of people who have fled Sudan to the neighboring country. Chad, South Sudan, Egypt and Central African Republicin the face of severe funding shortages.
In South Sudan, for example, where more than 40,000 returnees have fled across the border, WFP says it is “financial trouble” and that any increased pressure on resources could force it to take food and funding from others to support the newcomers.
According to data from the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR‘S data portThe largest flow from Sudan is to Egypt, which has seen the arrival of more than 68,000 Sudanese refugees and nearly 5,000 refugees of other nationalities fleeing the war.
Last week, the agency appeal for $445 million to support displaced people through October.
Relief team leader listening from frontline responders
On Wednesday, the undersecretary for humanitarian affairs, Martin Griffiths, spoke by phone with frontline responders on Wednesday in the capital Khartoum, including doctors and engineers.
Speaking to reporters at a regular briefing in New York, Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said during the call, “Mr Griffiths heard about this firsthand. community-led humanitarian aid response and their courageous efforts to provide emergency food, shelter and medical assistance amid ongoing violence and looting.”
He once again praised the resilience and creativity of the Sudanese people, and stressed the need for the UN and its partners to continue to support them.
