UN officials warn of rampant malnutrition and starvation in besieged city as conflict escalates
UN Signals Urgent Humanitarian Crisis as Starvation Looms in El-Fasher, Sudan
UN Signals Urgent Humanitarian Crisis as Starvation Looms in El-Fasher, Sudan
Terrified Families Face Dire Food Shortages Amid Civil War’s Toll
In a haunting report, the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) has raised alarm over severe starvation threatening families trapped in the beleaguered Sudanese city of el-Fasher. As the ongoing civil war enters its third year, this region of Darfur has not seen food deliveries for over a year due to ongoing fighting between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). El-Fasher, currently encircled by RSF fighters, has suffered immensely, with local activists already indicating deaths from starvation among the city's remaining population of 300,000.
The outbreak of civil conflict in April 2023 stemmed from a power struggle between the army and its former allies, leading to what the UN describes as one of history's most severe humanitarian crises. Unicef has also corroborated the dire situation, noting alarming levels of malnutrition affecting children throughout the nation, with many suffering visible signs of starvation.
Local authorities, including North Darfur Governor Al-Hafiz Bakhit—aligned with the military government—have voiced that life in el-Fasher has become intolerable. As the RSF intensifies its efforts to seize control of the city, WFP officials highlight that the area is grappling with skyrocketing food prices, leaving many to resort to desperate survival methods, such as consuming animal feed.
Everyone in el-Fasher is fighting to stay alive, asserts Eric Perdison, WFP’s regional director for eastern and southern Africa. The residents’ coping mechanisms have been pushed to the brink after two years of unrelenting warfare, and the WFP warns that without immediate intervention, the situation is set to worsen tragically.
An eight-year-old girl named Sondos shared her grim experience of fleeing to safety, commenting on her family's dire circumstances of “hunger and bombs.” The WFP has acknowledged trucks loaded with life-saving aid are poised for delivery, contingent upon an agreement for a humanitarian pause in hostilities—an initiative that has been met with skepticism from RSF leaders.
Previously, a UN convoy was attacked, leading to a prolonged ceasefire discussion while RSF claimed that the truce would assist opposing forces. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration announced the exodus of over one million people from el-Fasher since conflict erupted, with underreported cases of further suffering exacerbating their plight.
While some areas of Darfur have seen minimal progress in aid provisions, experts warn that gains are fragile and could be quickly undone as the rainy season looms. UNICEF's Sheldon Yett has expressed that even though some regions are slowly becoming accessible, they are struggling against inadequate resources fueled by reduced funding.
“This is a looming catastrophe,” he stated, warning of irreversible damage to a generation of children unless the international community acts swiftly and with purpose. UN agencies call for immediate access to aid and resources needed to combat this profound crisis, as days without intervention push more lives to the brink of catastrophe.
The outbreak of civil conflict in April 2023 stemmed from a power struggle between the army and its former allies, leading to what the UN describes as one of history's most severe humanitarian crises. Unicef has also corroborated the dire situation, noting alarming levels of malnutrition affecting children throughout the nation, with many suffering visible signs of starvation.
Local authorities, including North Darfur Governor Al-Hafiz Bakhit—aligned with the military government—have voiced that life in el-Fasher has become intolerable. As the RSF intensifies its efforts to seize control of the city, WFP officials highlight that the area is grappling with skyrocketing food prices, leaving many to resort to desperate survival methods, such as consuming animal feed.
Everyone in el-Fasher is fighting to stay alive, asserts Eric Perdison, WFP’s regional director for eastern and southern Africa. The residents’ coping mechanisms have been pushed to the brink after two years of unrelenting warfare, and the WFP warns that without immediate intervention, the situation is set to worsen tragically.
An eight-year-old girl named Sondos shared her grim experience of fleeing to safety, commenting on her family's dire circumstances of “hunger and bombs.” The WFP has acknowledged trucks loaded with life-saving aid are poised for delivery, contingent upon an agreement for a humanitarian pause in hostilities—an initiative that has been met with skepticism from RSF leaders.
Previously, a UN convoy was attacked, leading to a prolonged ceasefire discussion while RSF claimed that the truce would assist opposing forces. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration announced the exodus of over one million people from el-Fasher since conflict erupted, with underreported cases of further suffering exacerbating their plight.
While some areas of Darfur have seen minimal progress in aid provisions, experts warn that gains are fragile and could be quickly undone as the rainy season looms. UNICEF's Sheldon Yett has expressed that even though some regions are slowly becoming accessible, they are struggling against inadequate resources fueled by reduced funding.
“This is a looming catastrophe,” he stated, warning of irreversible damage to a generation of children unless the international community acts swiftly and with purpose. UN agencies call for immediate access to aid and resources needed to combat this profound crisis, as days without intervention push more lives to the brink of catastrophe.
