Amidst ongoing UN warnings about the deteriorating situation in Sudan, following more than a year of war between the army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, Justin Brady, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Sudan, stated that the images coming from some areas remind one of the worst famine situations ever witnessed globally. He also warned of a full range of concerns including displacement, the risk of famine, and severe malnutrition among children.
In an interview with "UN News from Port Sudan," he provided a chilling testimony about what is happening in certain Sudanese towns, emphasizing that hunger has driven people in some areas to eat tree leaves. He also noted that a Sudanese mother was forced to "cook dirt, just to put something in her children's stomachs." Regarding the city of Fashala, the UN official stressed that "the situation is getting worse."
"Rape and Suicide"
He also warned of the incoming seasonal rains which will make movements in several parts of the country difficult, "if not impossible," adding, "we are racing against time. But time is running out to stockpile supplies and move." He highlighted the continued reports of gender-based violence and sexual violence, noting some reports received by the UN Population Fund about survivors of sexual violence who commit suicide "because it is a burden too heavy to bear in Sudanese society."
The UN has repeatedly warned of the scarcity of food aid in the country as clashes intensify and hinder access to assistance for those in need, pointing out that hundreds of thousands are suffering from severe food shortages, with the specter of famine looming over some areas, in addition to the spread of diseases. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a global tool for monitoring hunger, indicated that nearly 18 million Sudanese—over a third of the country's 49 million population—face "high levels of acute food insecurity." Its estimates suggest that among this number, approximately five million are just a step away from famine.
It is noted that the fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces broke out unexpectedly in mid-April 2023 after weeks of tension between the two sides while military and civilian parties were finalizing a UN-supported political process.
