On 15 April 2023, armed clashes between the Rapid Support Forces and the regular army in the Sudanese capital Khartoum were reported. Later, the fighting between the military forces spread to other Sudanese regions.

Clashes in Sudan May Lead to 'Catastrophic Hunger Crisis,' If Not Stopped Now: Food Security Agency

11:26, 30 March 2024

Maxim Grishenkin

Writer

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The UN World Food Program earlier warned that the ongoing conflict in Sudan poses a substantial risk of triggering the worst famine in human history, adding that the crisis has severely disrupted the lives of millions of people in the country.

Sputnik

If the military clashes do not stop immediately, Sudan will face severe food shortages and malnutrition, and urgent action is needed to prevent a catastrophic famine in the country, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (ICP), a global food security authority, reported.

"Without an immediate cessation of hostilities and significant deployment of humanitarian assistance the population of Khartoum and Gezira States, Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan, is at risk of reaching the worst levels of acute food insecurity and malnutrition during the upcoming lean season starting from April – May 2024. Immediate action is thus required to prevent widespread death and total collapse of livelihoods and avert a catastrophic hunger crisis in Sudan," the report reads.

The IPC revealed that fighting in staple crop areas at the height of the harvest season severely reduced cereal production, which was estimated to be 46% lower than the previous year.

In addition, about 70% of health facilities in conflict-affected areas are either not functioning, burned or destroyed, and staff are fleeing to safer areas, which worsens the risk of child deaths as stated by the agency.

Armed Clashes in Sudan

'Hunger is Pervasive': UNICEF Warns of 'Catastrophic' Death Toll in Sudan as Famine Worsens

16 March, 15:01

UNICEF earlier estimated that 4.86 million Sudanese are acutely malnourished as of March 2024, of which 3.66 million are children under five, and 1.2 million are pregnant and lactating women, reflecting an increase of more than 22% from the beginning of 2023.

Last week, the UN called the situation in Sudan "one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory," which "plays out under a veil of international inattention and inaction."

Violent clashes broke out between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April 2023. Since then, the warring parties have declared a number of temporary nationwide ceasefires, but none have helped to resolve the conflict.

In late February, Sudan's Finance Minister, Gibril Ibrahim, revealed that as a result of the clashes, the country's economy contracted by 40% in 2023 and is expected to decline by 28% this year.