The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been fighting for power since April 2023, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
‘Unimaginable violence’ in El Fasher
Violence has intensified in recent weeks following the capture of El Fasher, capital of North Darfur state, by RSF, following a siege that lasted more than a year.
WFP Sudan tweeted that while families continue to flee the city, teams remain on the ground providing immediate assistance.
“We are rapidly delivering emergency food and nutritional supplies to hundreds of thousands of people. who are escaping unimaginable violence and hunger,” he said.
Access makes the difference
Dujarric recalled that famine has been confirmed in El Fasher and in Kadugli, capital of South Kordofan state, both places largely without aid.
“However, In nine other locations where WFP has maintained consistent access, famine-like conditions have been reversed thanks to sustained assistance.“, said.
“WFP highlights that where conflict has decreased and humanitarian operations have expanded, hunger has decreased, demonstrating that consistent access is the difference between hunger and real recovery.”
Millions more can be reached
The UN agency currently reaches more than four million people in Sudan each month with food, cash and emergency nutritional support in previously hard-to-reach areas in four states: Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum and Al Jazira.
“With more resources, WFP could double its coverage to reach eight million people monthly and further reduce the risk of famine spreading to the most affected areas,” he said.
“But without additional support, this fragile progress could quickly be undone.”
Dujarric urged the international community to “continue to step up its efforts, with the necessary support and funding to help the people in Sudan who so desperately need help.”
Families are running out of time
Separately, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, made an urgent appeal on Thursday for Sudanese civilians who “are now running out of time” as communities are deprived of aid.
The agency highlighted the plight of families who have fled the fighting and mass atrocities reported in El Fasher.
“Children are hungry, parents are desperate… They need protection, security and humanitarian access,” UNHCR said in a tweet.
‘Hostilities must cease’: Guterres
It came a day after the UN Secretary-General expressed grave concern over reports of mass atrocities in El Fasher and worsening violence in the Kordofans.
António Guterres spoke to journalists after the annual joint conference between the UN and the African Union (AU), held in New York on Wednesday.
“The flow of weapons and fighters from external parties must be cut off. The flow of humanitarian aid must be able to quickly reach civilians in need. Hostilities must cease,” he said.
The Secretary-General called on the warring parties to engage with his Personal Envoy for Sudan “and take swift and tangible steps towards a negotiated solution.”