The situation in Western Sudan is “shocking”, with people in the capital facing “absolutely devastating” conditions, according to senior UN officials from African countries.
Speaking in Port Sudan after visiting Samantha Chatarazi, the emergency coordinator of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), she added, “A huge portion of the city will be destroyed. The levels of hunger and despair are very high,” but she added, “people are full of hope.”
Currently, Sudan is the only country in the world where hunger has been officially confirmed.
Half of the population is faced with extreme hunger, with nearly 5 million children and breastfeeding mothers being severely malnourished.
Chatharaj said in March WFP was able to reach 4 million people across Sudan.
“This has taken an important step towards getting food from people who have long been separated from aid,” she added.
However, she added, “The need is much greater. In 27 regions, either hunger or high risk, recent advances still cover only a small portion of what is needed to stop the crisis.”
Destruction and hunger
In Darfur, western Sudan, nearly 450,000 people already facing hunger and horrific violence have been forced to flee El Fasher and Zamzam camps in the past few weeks.
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“The report from the ground is shocking,” Mrs. Chatharaj said, explaining that the WFP is currently mobilizing support to reach the population wherever they fled.
Returnee’s Plan
Many are expected to return to Khartoum in the coming months, and WFP is working to strengthen its presence in the city and to ensure that it can deliver food regularly to those who return.
Together with local governments, the United Nations aims to provide emergency food aid to one million people in the Khartoum region next month.
Competition with the rain
Many routes across Darfur will become infeasible ahead of the rainy season, which is scheduled to begin in June. WFP only has food in stock near the needy population for a few weeks before stocking it, Chatarazi said.
In preparation, WFP has installed mobile warehouses throughout Darfur to keep food supplies safe and maintain operational during the rain.
Meanwhile, around 100,000 people remain trapped in El Fascher, a besieged city.
WFP urgently calls for more funding and safe access to areas in need so that work can continue during the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis.
