The violence in Sudan threatens to deepen the humanitarian crisis in a country that was already struggling. Before this outbreak, 15.8 million people were already in need of humanitarian aid. Over 11 million didn’t have enough healthy, nutritious food.
By Action Against Hunger
28 April 2023
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Since fighting in Sudan intensified in April, food prices have doubled. Movement is becoming increasingly restricted, making it even more difficult for people to access food and water. The World Food Programme has warned that fighting in Sudan could further plunge millions more into hunger.
Action Against Hunger has been providing humanitarian aid in Sudan since 2017. But now humanitarian aid workers and members of the international community are being targeted. According to the UN, five humanitarian workers have been killed so far. Humanitarian activities have been interrupted, with many reports of looting of humanitarian supplies. This makes it even harder to get food and water to the people who need it most.
Evacuation operations of international staff and their families from many foreign countries are ongoing. After he was evacuated, Reza Mohammadi, Financial Coordinator at Action Against Hunger in Sudan, could only express his concern for those who are staying: “My family and I feel safe now, but we cannot stop thinking about our national colleagues and their families.”
Rafiullah Tariq, Head of our MEAL Department in Sudan, added, “our thoughts are for all our national colleagues who are suffering from this unjustified war.”
We’re concerned about the safety and wellbeing of our national staff in Sudan after the evacuations take place. They’re essential to resuming aid operations.
Conflict remains the main driver of global food insecurity around the world. An estimated 50,000 acutely malnourished children in Sudan have had treatment disrupted because of the conflict, according to WHO data. Most food insecure people around the world, including 75% of all chronically malnourished children under the age of five, live in countries affected by armed conflict and violence.
Prolonged droughts, erratic rains, and crop failure have led to a food insecurity crisis in Sudan – made worse by droughts, floods, and disease outbreaks. In 2021, when Sudan’s armed forces launched a military coup, the prevalence of food insecurity in some states of the country was as high as 65% in West Darfur, 59% in Central Darfur, and 56% in North Darfur. Rates of malnutrition were increasing across Sudan at a concerning rate, especially among children. Approximately 3 million childrenunder five suffering from malnutrition annually, according to UNICEF.
“The situation here is calm but there is fear within people due to what is going on in Khartoum,” says El Fateh Edis Edris Eisa, Head of Base of Action Against Hunger in Sudan’s Blue Nile state. “People don’t know what will happen next.”
So far, over 400 people have been killed and at least 3,700 have been injured. Many are fleeing violence on foot. Nearly 4,000 people have fled Sudan to South Sudan and 20,000 to Chad, which is already home to more than 400,000 Sudanese refugees. It’s estimated that these numbers could increase to 270,000 as people continue to flee violence.
There are also those who are fleeing but are staying in Sudan. According to our team in the White Nile region, thousands of people are arriving from Khartoum, and some are taking refuge in schools and mosques.
Sudanese people are helping those who are fleeing hotspots of the conflict. An international humanitarian worker evacuating from Sudan, whose identity we’re protecting for security reasons, says “on our way from Khartoum to Gedared, we saw many villagers offering water and food to people leaving Khartoum. These people are amazing. I hope we can get back on our feet so we can continue to serve and work together.”
The conflict erupted on 15 April after negotiations over the transition to a civilian government stalled. In December 2022, after months of negotiations, Sudan’s military and civilian leaders signed a preliminary deal to end the military rule that has governed the country since October 2021. A final deal was due to be signed earlier in April, on the fourth anniversary of the overthrow of long-ruling Omar al-Bashir in a popular uprising. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were required to cede power, which provoked tensions.
A 72-hour ceasefire was agreed on 25 April between the two warring parties after mediation from the United States and Saudi Arabia. However, Action Against Hunger staff in Khartoum say the ceasefire was only respected during the first day but it’s not being respected anymore. There is still heavy shooting and air bombardments.
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