Welthungerhilfe: Famine Threatens Thousands in Sudan Amid Escalating Violence

The German aid organization Welthungerhilfe has expressed grave concern over the escalating violence in Sudan. The organization states that the ongoing fighting has pushed the country's already vulnerable population towards a humanitarian catastrophe.

As a consequence of the severe clashes, many families have been trapped in their homes for six days. Their food and drinking water supplies are running low, and venturing outside is life-threatening. Even before the current hostilities, nearly one-fifth of Sudan's population, or 9.6 million people, suffered from hunger. The situation is described as particularly critical in the western Darfur region.

"Our colleagues in El Fasher report ongoing fighting. Families' supplies are depleted and the water supply has collapsed, but it is life-threatening to go outside," said Mathias Mogge, Secretary-General of Welthungerhilfe. "Furthermore, markets have been burned down, and supply routes from the capital, Khartoum, are blocked. Hunger must not be used as a weapon."

Mogge called for an immediate ceasefire to prevent the humanitarian catastrophe from spreading and to avoid further deaths. "We now need access to provide people with essentials and humanitarian corridors so they can safely flee from combat zones. We will not abandon the people and will continue our work in Sudan as soon as the security situation allows."

Due to recurring violence and numerous conflicts, 3.7 million people in Sudan have already been displaced. According to the UN, a total of 15.8 million people require humanitarian assistance, the highest number since 2011. The country ranked 106th out of 122 countries in the 2022 Global Hunger Index. The nation's food security situation has long been precarious due to drought, high prices, and diminishing livelihoods resulting from the protracted economic crisis and ongoing displacement. This period also marks the beginning of the so-called 'lean period' between harvests, when an increasing number of people cannot sustain themselves without aid.