The leading global authority on food crises has identified famine in two regions of conflict-ridden Sudan. The affected areas include El Fasher, where paramilitary groups have reportedly carried out mass killings. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report released on Monday confirmed the occurrence of famine in El Fasher and Kadugli, situated in the Darfur region and South Kordofan province, respectively.
According to the IPC, both locations have faced a complete collapse of livelihoods, leading to starvation, exceptionally high levels of malnutrition, and fatalities. Additionally, twenty other regions in Darfur and South Kordofan, witnessing escalated hostilities in recent times, are also at risk of famine.
El Fasher endured an 18-month siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), obstructing essential supplies to thousands of inhabitants. The RSF recently captured the city, reportedly resulting in numerous casualties and assaults on the populace. Reports and footage have emerged depicting RSF atrocities, including beatings, killings, and sexual violence, as confirmed by civilian and aid worker accounts.
Similarly, Kadugli has been under RSF blockade for several months, with a significant population trapped within, as the group seeks to expand its territorial control against the Sudanese military. The World Food Program previously stated in April that famine had been confirmed in ten areas based on IPC data.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a power struggle between the military and RSF, resulting in over 40,000 reported fatalities, although aid organizations suggest the actual toll could be substantially higher. The conflict has displaced more than 14 million people, leading to disease outbreaks and famine in various parts of the country.
Efforts are underway for a potential humanitarian truce in Sudan’s conflict, with the United States collaborating with both factions. Simultaneously, International Criminal Court prosecutors are working to preserve evidence from recent violent incidents in Darfur. As of September, approximately 375,000 individuals have fallen into famine in Darfur and South Kordofan, while an additional 6.3 million across Sudan are facing emergency levels of food insecurity.
Save the Children reported in September that food supplies had depleted in Kadugli due to escalating hostilities, forcing tens of thousands to flee amid restricted movement. Dilling, another town in South Kordofan, is reportedly experiencing similar dire conditions as Kadugli.
The IPC’s assessment of famine is based on specific criteria, including severe food scarcity, acute malnutrition in children, and malnutrition-related deaths per population. The IPC has rarely confirmed famine in the past, with recent occurrences in locations like Gaza, Somalia, South Sudan, and parts of Sudan’s Darfur region.
The situation in Sudan calls for urgent action to prevent further loss of life and mitigate the severe levels of food insecurity and malnutrition. The IPC has highlighted the importance of a ceasefire to address the crisis effectively.