The UN warns that over 600,000 people in Sudan are on the brink of starvation as famine spreads in five regions. The conflict, which began in April 2023, has caused immense suffering, with aid operations suspended due to violence. Unless urgent action is taken, millions are at serious risk as the humanitarian crisis deepens, particularly affecting health and food security.
The United Nations has issued a dire warning regarding the precarious situation in Sudan, where over 600,000 individuals are on the verge of starvation amid an escalating conflict. UN human rights chief Volker Turk informed the UN Human Rights Council of the famine’s spread across five regions, including the Zamzam refugee camp in North Darfur, where aid operations have been suspended due to violence.
Operations by the World Food Programme and Doctors Without Borders were halted at Zamzam, which shelters half a million refugees, due to increasing hostilities between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). WFP had been providing food to approximately 300,000 individuals but reported reaching only about 60,000 this month because of intensified shelling. Furthermore, one attack has devastated the camp’s central market.
The humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by ongoing violence since the war commenced in April 2023, resulting in significant loss of life, displacement, and a healthcare system in turmoil. Turk emphasized that Sudan is at a critical turning point, predicting a potential famine in additional regions unless urgent measures are implemented to restore stability and deliver humanitarian aid.
The country currently faces a colossal displacement issue, with over 12 million people uprooted from their homes. Turk warned that unless the RSF’s attempts to exert control and establish authority are curtailed, the divisions within Sudan will worsen, leading to more conflict. Currently, over 30 million inhabitants require assistance, with the health services severely impaired and diseases proliferating in displacement camps, notably cholera.
Cholera cases have surged in the White Nile state, leading to numerous fatalities and infections. The situation intensified following a drone strike that disrupted access to clean water. Mohamed Abdiladif, Save the Children’s director in Sudan, poignantly indicated that children in the country are trapped in a relentless cycle of violence, disease, and hunger, with catastrophic consequences for their wellbeing.
Sudan is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis marked by mass starvation, escalating violence, and a collapse of healthcare services. The international community is urged to take immediate action to avert disaster as the situation deteriorates. With millions in need of assistance, the call for peace and support has never been more urgent.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
