UN warns of "catastrophic" risk: 5 million in Sudan face starvation.

Photo-AFP

Amidst the ongoing strife in Sudan, the United Nations and the United States have issued urgent pleas for humanitarian aid delivery to stave off an impending humanitarian catastrophe. With an estimated five million Sudanese at risk of starvation, the situation has been described as "catastrophic" by UN officials. The conflict, spanning nearly a year between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has resulted in widespread devastation, claiming tens of thousands of lives, demolishing infrastructure, and crippling the economy. Additionally, it has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis, leading to acute food shortages and pushing the country towards famine.

UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths highlighted the severity of the situation in a letter to the Security Council, warning that nearly five million people could face catastrophic food insecurity in the coming months. The crisis is further compounded by the alarming number of Sudanese children suffering from severe malnutrition, with approximately 730,000 children affected.

Efforts to address the crisis are hampered by limited access for aid organizations, necessitating safe and unimpeded access across conflict lines within Sudan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesman emphasized the urgent need for a substantial mobilization of resources from the international community to address the crisis effectively.

The World Food Programme has sounded the alarm, cautioning that the conflict risks triggering the world's largest hunger crisis. UNICEF emergency chief Jill Lawler emphasized the urgent need to deliver aid to affected populations, underscoring the significant challenges in reaching those in need despite available aid stocks.

Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts and a Security Council resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities, fighting persists, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The UN has called for intensified financial support for aid operations in Sudan, highlighting the urgent need to secure funding to address the growing humanitarian needs.