ALBAWABA - The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released a statement urging ceasing hostilities across Sudan and upping the scale of life-saving food, nutrition, and cash assistance as well as emergency agricultural aid.
The report added that the African country is facing acute levels of poor food security and unprecedented levels of hunger, which have been recorded by the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), in addition to the largest displacement crisis.
More than 755,000 people are facing (IPC Phase 5) levels of acute hunger, which is considered the worst form of hunger, with approximately 25 million+ people experiencing acute levels of hunger.
Over 5,000 people have been displaced in Zamzam camp in Darfur, where famine conditions have been proven, as a result of recent heavy rains rains. Alarming reports indicate that latrines and water sources are being flooded, raising the risk of waterborne infections at a time when people are already dying from starvation and illness.
The UN and humanitarian partners are attempting to scale up assistance in these and other Sudanese hunger hotspots, but significant challenges remain, including access limits, impassable roads, and budget deficits for the relief effort.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu stated: "We are witnessing horrific famine conditions in parts of North Darfur and an increasing risk of famine in other settlements and conflict-affected areas, especially in Darfur, South Kordofan, Khartoum, and Al Jazirah,".
"We have been raising the alarm about this looming catastrophe, yet due to the ongoing conflict and limited humanitarian access, these communities are still not getting the immediate support they need. We need urgent, concerted action to prevent an even greater catastrophe from unfolding," Dongyu added.
The FAO director asserted that famine can be prevented with the immediate cessation of hostilities would be the first step. "Peace is a prerequisite for food security, and the right to food is a basic human right" he added.
