Sudan is currently the only nation in the world facing confirmed famine, according to the United Nations, which has described the humanitarian crisis in the country as “staggering.”
Edem Wosornu, director of the operations and advocacy division at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), highlighted the dire situation during a Security Council briefing on Monday. She called attention to the catastrophic impact of ongoing armed conflict on civilians and aid efforts.
“The situation in and around El Fasher in North Darfur State remains especially catastrophic,” Wosornu said, citing famine conditions in five areas, including Zamzam and Abu Shouk internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
Access to famine-affected regions continues to be a critical challenge, though some progress has been made. A UN convoy carrying food and essential supplies arrived in Khartoum on December 25, marking the largest such delivery since the crisis began in April 2023.
The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report warns of famine risks expanding to 17 additional areas by May. Wosornu reiterated the need for strict adherence to international humanitarian law, improved access for aid workers, and increased global funding.
Beth Bechdol, deputy director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), echoed the urgency, emphasizing the need for local food production to stave off further catastrophe. “If we fail to act now, millions of lives and the stability of the region are at risk,” she said.
Sudan has been embroiled in armed conflict between General Abdel Fattah al Burhan-controlled army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023. The violence has claimed over 20,000 lives and displaced more than 14 million people, according to UN and local estimates.
The international community faces mounting pressure to respond to Sudan’s deepening crisis before famine spreads further.