UN Warns of Starvation Crisis in Darfur, Sudan as Conflict Worsens
A UN agency has issued a dire warning about the escalating hunger crisis in Darfur, Sudan, where people are resorting to eating grass and peanut shells to survive. Time is ticking as violence continues to ravage the region, putting thousands at risk of starvation.
Time is running out to prevent starvation in Darfur, a region in western Sudan, as escalating violence continues to devastate the African nation.
"People in Darfur have resorted to eating grass and peanut shells," stated Michael Dunford, the regional director for Eastern Africa of the World Food Programme (WFP). He warned that without immediate assistance, there is a high risk of widespread starvation and death not only in Darfur but also in other conflict-affected areas of Sudan.
Sudan has been in the grip of civil war since April 2023, when clashes broke out between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This conflict has turned into a brutal situation marked by disturbing accounts of sexual and genocidal violence, as well as civilian casualties, leading to a mass exodus of refugees.
In a tragic incident on Thursday, gunmen in South Darfur attacked and killed two drivers from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). This attack also resulted in three other ICRC staff members being injured, according to the humanitarian organization.
The ICRC team was attacked en route to assess the crisis among communities affected by armed violence in the region, the organization said.
The border between Sudan and Chad is shown on April 25. More than 8.7 million people have been displaced by the war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary RSF, according to the UN.
On April 25, a map displayed the border between Sudan and Chad. The UN reports that over 8.7 million individuals have been forced to leave their homes due to the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary RSF.
Newly arrived refugees from Sudan cook food over fires outside their makeshift shelters, on April 24, 2024 near Adré, Chad.
Newly arrived refugees from Sudan cook food over fires outside their makeshift shelters, on April 24, 2024 near Adré, Chad.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
The latest surge in violence comes as the RSF encircles North Darfur’s capital, El Fasher.
In the city and its nearby areas, there have been increasing arbitrary killings, systematic burning of entire villages, and escalating air bombardments, according to the UN deputy humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, Toby Hayward.
Hayward also mentioned that El Fasher is the only city in Darfur that has not been captured by the RSF and is currently housing thousands of people who have been displaced by the war. UNICEF reported that at least 500,000 of those seeking refuge in the city have been displaced from violence in other parts of Sudan.
More than 36,000 individuals had to leave their houses in El Fasher recently, as stated by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
At least 43 individuals have lost their lives in and near the city in the last couple of weeks due to the increased violence, according to UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
Sudanese security forces patrol in a commercial district in Gedaref city in eastern Sudan on April 3, 2024.
Sudanese security forces patrol in a commercial district in Gedaref city in eastern Sudan on April 3, 2024.
EBRAHIM HAMID/AFP/AFP via Getty Images
Related article
Sudan is facing a crisis as the country commemorates one year of civil war. In western El Fasher, more than a dozen villages have been attacked, leading to reports of violence including sexual violence, injuries and deaths of children, burning of homes, and destruction of essential civilian resources and infrastructure.
Deliveries of food assistance in Darfur have been inconsistent due to ongoing fighting and bureaucratic challenges. The World Food Programme reports that at least 1.7 million people in the region are facing critical levels of hunger.
The recent increase in violence near El Fasher has caused disruptions to aid convoys originating from Chad's Tine border crossing. This corridor, which passes through North Darfur's capital, has been a vital lifeline for humanitarian aid. Additionally, restrictions imposed in Port Sudan have obstructed aid deliveries, preventing the transportation of relief supplies through Adré, a town in Chad.
More than 8.7 million people, including 4.6 million children, have been displaced by the war in Sudan and 24.8 million need assistance, according to OCHA.
