Source: AFP
Aid groups are warning that Sudan’s “man-made famine” could be even worse than expected, with the most devastating death toll the world has seen in decades, without more global pressure on the warring generals.
A UN-backed study said on Thursday that 755,000 people are on the brink of starvation in Sudan, a death toll not seen since the 1980s, when famine in Ethiopia shocked the world.
Barrett Alexander, director of Sudan programs for Mercy Corps, said even that figure may be an underestimate, as the conflict has displaced farmers in the country’s rural areas, raising fears about the next harvest.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a little bit higher than that number,” he said of the launch of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, initiative.
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“We are seeing a possible man-made famine happening before our eyes, mainly caused by conflict,” Alexander, who is based in Port Sudan, told AFP on a visit to Washington.
The IPC said nearly 26 million people — half of Sudan’s population — face acute food insecurity with 755,000 in catastrophic conditions, including around the capital Khartoum and Darfur, the scene of a scorched earth military campaign before two decades.
Fighting broke out in April 2023 between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Force after a plan to integrate them failed, with the warring generals seizing territory.
Alexander said both sides have imposed cumbersome levels of bureaucracy, including requiring permits from aid workers.
“Getting past the front lines is almost impossible,” he said.
Eating grass
Eatizaz Yousif, Sudan country director for the International Rescue Committee, said there were already reports of people resorting to eating grass in South Kordofan state.
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Source: AFP
“We will definitely see very soon people dying from lack of food in different parts of the country,” said Yusif, who was also in Washington.
He said the warlords have looted food depots and harassed or killed aid workers.
“It’s definitely a man-made famine because we don’t have a problem with the grain level right now,” he said.
The United States has been seeking to bring the warring sides back to the negotiating table, but has seen little interest, with diplomats saying both sides believe they can win on the battlefield.
The two sides “must negotiate an immediate ceasefire to facilitate predictable and sustained humanitarian access to all Sudanese and remain at the negotiating table to end this conflict,” said Samantha Power, head of the Agency for International Development. of the USA.
Regional actors have become increasingly involved in Sudan, with the United Arab Emirates accused of funneling military support to the Rapid Support Force, whose fighters have helped the wealthy Gulf nation in Yemen.
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The paramilitaries have also reportedly received support from Russia’s Wagner mercenaries, while Egypt, Turkey and Iran have reportedly backed the military.
With multiple conflicts in the world, donors have provided only 17 percent of the $2.7 billion requested by the United Nations to help Sudan.
“Compare Sudan with crises like Gaza and Ukraine — perhaps they are more important in the geopolitical arena,” Youssef said.
“If you look at the number of displaced people and the number of people suffering, Sudan should be at the top of humanitarian attention,” he said.
Source: AFP
