Warnings of Danger of Famine in Sudan
Sudan Events – Nahid Oshi
Former Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Abdul Rahman Hattar, warned of the danger of famine in Sudan, and said that the situation was disastrous due to the war.
He stressed that the famine now in Sudan is not an expectation but a tangible reality, pointing out that its causes are as follows: the decline in production during the previous agricultural season to less than 40% of the previous one, noting that the war did not include the largest production areas (Gezira, Sennar, Gedaref, Blue Nile, and White Nile), adding, “Now the situation has become catastrophic and is heading toward the threat of the worst famine in the world after the two world wars.”
It is expected that the Al-Jazeera and Al-Rahad project will exit the production cycle this season and the cultivated areas will decline due to the risks of the war spreading to the states of Gedaref, Sennar and White Nile.
As for livestock production, Hatter pointed out the expectations of the death of herds due to the ongoing war in the livestock belt in the states of Darfur, Kordofan, and the borders of the White Nile.
He said that the interim classification of food security will reach the fifth stage.
Regarding the ability of consumers to obtain food, he said that the safe areas are witnessing a decline in the purchasing power of citizens due to the lack of sources of income and the scarcity of resources in addition to the rise in prices, indicating that prices have doubled and increased by more than 80% over the previous season, indicating the weakness of the international response in relation to the large volume of resources that we need. To confront the threat of famine, he called on everyone to exercise a voice of reason and end the war completely. He said that the reality is “bleaker” than expected and we must think about the danger facing us, as famine is the worst imaginable disaster.