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July 13, 2024 (Khartoum) – The Emergency Room in the Southern Belt region of Khartoum announced on Saturday that all free kitchens in the region will be closed due to lack of funds and food supplies. The Emergency Room warned that the dire situation could lead to widespread famine among residents who are already struggling to cope with ongoing conflict and a severe lack of humanitarian aid.
The Southern Belt area includes the communities of Al-Inqaz, Al-Azhari, Al-Salama and Mayo, which have been under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the early days of the war. These communities have been the scene of intense military operations between the army and the RSF, resulting in civilian casualties, destruction of homes and displacement.
In June, volunteers reported large numbers of residents fleeing south Khartoum due to lack of security and deteriorating living conditions. Now, the closure of the free kitchen, known as “Takaya,” has further exacerbated the crisis.
Mohamed Jindasha, spokesman for the South Belt Emergency Room, told Sudan Tribune that the kitchen was forced to close due to the depletion of food stocks and the lack of funds to replenish them. He explained that the emergency room relies on intermittent donations and grants, but these have not been received in recent weeks.
The closure affects around 25 kitchens which are a lifeline for many residents, providing basic meals amid the loss of income sources and a lack of resources. Jindasha warned that the lack of food aid and the cessation of these vital services could quickly lead to a devastating famine in the region. Many residents were already malnourished due to their reliance on poor quality food throughout the war.
The dire situation has been compounded by the actions of the army-controlled state authorities, who have restricted the delivery of goods to areas controlled by Khartoum’s Rapid Security Forces and imposed strict security measures on roads, further hampering access to basic supplies.
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