The World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday that famine is threatening several areas south of Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, calling for immediate international action.
The WFP recorded “severe” levels of hunger in the city of Jabal Awliya, located about 40 kilometers south of Khartoum, according to Laurent Bukera, the organization’s director in Sudan. He spoke via video from Port Sudan during the UN’s regular briefing in Geneva.
The official added that “the needs are immense” following his return from Khartoum State, where the WFP inaugurated a new branch in Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city located on the opposite bank of the Nile River, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
He continued: “We witnessed widespread destruction and difficulty accessing water, healthcare, and electricity, as well as an outbreak of cholera. In some parts of the city, life is returning to normal, but many neighborhoods remain deserted.” He added that “several areas in the southern part of the city are facing a high risk of famine.”
He called on the international community to “act immediately by increasing funding to halt famine in the most affected areas and investing in the reconstruction of Sudan.”
