The World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF have issued a dire warning about the escalating famine crisis in Sudan. Four months after famine was first confirmed in Zamzam camp in North Darfur, more areas in North Darfur and the Western Nuba mountains are now experiencing famine conditions. The latest reports identify famine in at least five areas of Sudan, with projections for more areas to be affected in the coming months.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), more than 24.6 million people in Sudan are now facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with over 600,000 people in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). This alarming escalation of hunger and malnutrition is occurring during the harvest season when food availability should be at its peak. The ongoing conflict, displacement, and restricted humanitarian access are the primary drivers of this crisis.
Immediate action is needed to prevent the spread of famine in 2025, as millions of lives are at risk, especially children. The agencies urge the international community to prioritize funding for humanitarian efforts and secure a ceasefire to ensure unhindered access to affected areas. Without urgent intervention, the crisis in Sudan is likely to worsen, with millions more at risk of starvation.
WFP’s Director of Food Security and Nutrition Analysis, Jean-Martin Bauer, highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that people are dying due to lack of access to food. WFP is working tirelessly to provide assistance to the most vulnerable populations, but the volatile and dangerous conditions on the ground make operations challenging.
UNICEF’s Director of Emergency Operations, Lucia Elmi, emphasized the need for life-saving interventions to address the malnutrition crisis in Sudan. The delivery of therapeutic food, water, and medicine is crucial to saving lives, but safe and sustained access is essential to reach those in need.
UNICEF and WFP are ramping up their humanitarian response in Sudan, focusing on high-risk areas with integrated health, nutrition, water, sanitation, social protection, and food security interventions. The international community must act swiftly to prevent further escalation of the crisis and save lives in Sudan.
This article is a distributed press release by APO Group on behalf of the World Food Programme (WFP).
