American Report Expects Hunger and Malnutrition in Sudan to Reach “State of Emergency”
Sudan Events – Agencies
The American Early Warning Network has said in its latest report that Sudan faces the risk of famine, and indicated that the ongoing conflict in the country threatens the ability of millions of citizens to obtain food.
The network explained that the ongoing war between the armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces is leading the country towards a terrible deterioration in severe food insecurity in Sudan.
The Network said: “The country faces the risk of famine of the fifth stage of the international classification.” The report expected the situation to deteriorate further and enter the emergency phase.
The network’s report indicated that there are escalating high levels of malnutrition and hunger-related deaths among residents and displaced people in parts of West Darfur, Khartoum, and the Greater Darfur areas where a high percentage of displaced people are concentrated, such as El Fasher in North Darfur state.
The network expected that deaths would increase more than expected, that hunger and malnutrition would reach the stage of a state of emergency (the fourth stage), and that some families would enter the stage of disaster, especially in West Darfur, Khartoum, and among the displaced population in hard-to-reach areas in Greater Darfur.
The network’s report indicated that the displaced people in and around El Fasher constitute a growing source of concern following the recent escalation of the conflict and the announcement by armed movements in Darfur of their bias in fighting with the army. It indicated that if the Rapid Support Militia (RSF) took over El Fasher, it would lead to an escalation of tribal violence and deaths, in addition to widespread displacement scope in the event that it controls the entire Darfur region.
The report pointed out that the availability of food at the national level is shrinking rapidly as a result of the impact of the conflict on local production and imports. It expected the grain gap to reach 2 million metric tons, as well as decline of informal cross-border trade.