The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) has raised alarm over a severe risk of famine in areas south of Sudan’s war-torn capital, Khartoum.
Laurent Bukera, WFP’s Sudan representative, described “severe” hunger levels in Jabal Awliya, roughly 40 kilometres south of Khartoum, following a recent assessment.
Bukera spoke from Port Sudan after visiting Khartoum, where the WFP recently opened a new office in Omdurman, part of the greater Khartoum region.
He reported “widespread destruction, scarce access to water, healthcare, and electricity, alongside a cholera outbreak” in the area, describing many neighbourhoods as “ghost cities.”
General Abdel Fattah al Burhan’s forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in a brutal conflict since April 2023.
The fighting has caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced 13 million people, with four million fleeing abroad, triggering the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Bukera emphasized the urgent need for food aid, noting the WFP’s ability to now deliver regular assistance to southern Khartoum.
Initial aid distributions confirmed the high risk of famine, with hunger and desperation gripping local communities in Jabal Awliya.
The WFP currently reaches four million people monthly, aiming to expand to seven million, prioritizing famine-threatened zones.
However, the agency faces a severe funding shortfall of over $500 million for emergency food and cash aid in the next six months.
Famine has been declared in five areas, including displacement camps near El-Fasher, where aid access is dangerously limited.
Bukera called on the international community to urgently increase funding to halt famine and support Sudan’s recovery after years of conflict.
“This is the moment to stand with the Sudanese people as they rebuild their lives… we see light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.