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News | 15-04-2024 | 16:00
Sudan is on the brink of severe famine. The problem is already serious, with millions of Sudanese suffering from chronic malnutrition. But food shortages appear to be worsening, largely due to a devastating war that is about to enter its second year. The Netherlands supports Sudan with humanitarian aid, but the Sudanese people need more help.
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World hunger
Sudan is not the only country currently suffering from severe food shortages. Food emergencies are also occurring in Ethiopia, Gaza, Yemen, Somalia and South Sudan. All of these situations deserve serious attention from the international community. But what is currently unfolding in Sudan appears to be the biggest food crisis the world has experienced in decades, as a report reveals. Clingendaal Report.
The world is facing its biggest food crisis in decades.
What is the situation in Sudan?
Since April 15, 2023, heavy fighting has broken out between Sudanese government forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. More than 11 million people have fled Sudan and other countries, with no end in sight to the conflict. The Sudanese people are suffering as violence escalates and disrupts food production.
Both sides in the conflict have committed extremely serious human rights violations, such as extreme sexual violence against women and girls, including sexual slavery, ethnically targeted killings, and deliberate obstruction of aid, including food and health care. This has resulted in the loss of many Sudanese lives, including a large number of children.
How big is the scale of Sudan’s impending food crisis?
The scale of Sudan’s problems is enormous. The conflict has had a major impact on food production. The harvest in March was very poor, and food processing plants have been destroyed or closed due to the conflict. The economy has almost come to a standstill, many Sudanese have little income, and food prices have skyrocketed.
After the harvest, once stocks run out, the situation could get even worse. Up to 18 million of the 45 million people could be at risk of catastrophic famine – the most extreme form of food insecurity – as early as May. In the areas worst affected by the conflict, people already have barely enough food to eat once a day. The next harvest is in six months. Famine could kill more than a million people in the coming months.
What is the Netherlands doing?
The situation in Sudan will only really improve once the conflict ends. Only then will it be possible to provide the necessary aid and the economy can recover. The Netherlands is therefore working internationally to achieve a ceasefire. The Netherlands supports ceasefire negotiations through the EU. The EU also puts pressure on the warring parties by: Sanctions.
The Netherlands is a major donor of humanitarian aid to Sudan, mainly through the United Nations and international non-governmental organizations. At the United Nations, the Netherlands has also called for increased international aid to Sudan and a greater focus on tackling impunity in the country. The Netherlands is pursuing these efforts through various channels, including through the Human Rights Council and supporting organizations that document human rights violations.
April 15, 2024: Paris Humanitarian Conference
Netherlands to provide additional €10 million in emergency aid to SudanMinister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lisje Schreinemacher announced the additional aid at a conference on Sudan’s humanitarian situation in Paris on Monday. The money will go to the World Food Programme to provide food to the Sudanese people.
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