Almost 18 million people across the country are currently facing acute hunger
The number of hungry people in Sudan has doubled over the past year, the World Food Programme (WFP) said, adding that it is already receiving reports of people dying from starvation.
Almost 18 million people across the country are currently facing acute hunger.
An estimated five million are experiencing emergency levels of hunger due to conflict in areas such as Khartoum, Darfur, and Kordofan.
“The situation in Sudan today is nothing short of catastrophic,” said Eddie Rowe, WFP Sudan Representative and Country Director.
“WFP has food in Sudan, but lack of humanitarian access and other unnecessary hurdles are slowing operations and preventing us from getting vital aid to the people who most urgently need our support.”
The Sudanese Army and a rival military known as the Rapid Security Forces (RSF) have been locked in battle since last April. WFP is urging them to provide immediate security guarantees so that it can reach millions in need.
The UN agency has repeatedly warned of a looming hunger catastrophe in Sudan, where it has assisted more than 6.5 million people since war broke out.
“Yet life-saving assistance is not reaching those who need it the most, and we are already receiving reports of people dying of starvation,” Rowe said.
WFP is only able to regularly deliver food aid to one in 10 people facing emergency levels of hunger in conflict hotspots, including Khartoum, Darfur, Kordofan, and most recently Gezira.
