[ad_1]
1 August 2024 (Port Sudan) – The Sudanese humanitarian community has called for urgent resources and unhindered humanitarian access after a new report confirmed localized famine in North Darfur.
The Famine Review Committee (FRC) Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) assessment concluded that famine conditions are prevalent in parts of North Darfur, including in the Zam Zam refugee camp in El Fasher.
“The United Nations and its partners in Sudan have taken note of these findings, which reflect the gravity of the humanitarian situation on the ground,” said Clementine Nkweta Salami, Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan.
She added: “The Sudanese people have suffered terribly since the conflict broke out more than 15 months ago. This is a man-made crisis that can be resolved if all parties and stakeholders uphold their responsibilities and commitments to the people in urgent need. The humanitarian community in Sudan has been sounding the alarm about the unfolding hunger catastrophe and risk of famine, while the conflict continues to rage, causing displacement, disrupting basic services, destroying livelihoods and severely restricting humanitarian access.”
FRC’s analysis in the report concluded that famine conditions in the Zam Zam internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in North Darfur continued as of June and July 2024 and are likely to continue until August-October 2024.
The FRC further said that similar situations are likely to affect other IDP camps in El Fasher area of North Darfur, particularly Abu Shouk and Salam camps, adding that there is an urgent need to assess these sites.
People are likely to experience similar situations in the other 13 areas at risk of famine listed in an IPC analysis published in June 2024. The analysis highlights that Sudan faces the worst acute food insecurity in its history, with more than half of the population experiencing severe hunger.
This includes more than 8.5 million people facing Emergency Hunger Conditions (IPC 4) in Greater Darfur, South Kordofan, North Kordofan, Blue Nile, Al Jazira and Khartoum, and more than 755,000 people in Catastrophic Conditions (IPC 5).
“We have been scaling up our response in recent months, but the needs are huge and we cannot afford to waste a single minute,” said the Humanitarian Coordinator.
“The humanitarian community is advancing its work on many fronts, including urgently delivering food, nutrition and health supplies, and agricultural inputs to areas most at risk; scaling up cash transfers to communities in need; and expanding its presence where hunger is greatest,” she added.
Officials say the gunfire needs to stop so humanitarians can help those in need.
“We need an urgent infusion of aid and safe access for humanitarian assistance, including across borders and fighting lines,” stressed Nkweta-Salami.
More than 125 humanitarian organizations are working on the ground, providing some form of humanitarian assistance to nearly 8 million people between January and June 2024.
In addition, aid workers continue to face significant challenges in humanitarian access, including intense conflict, insecurity and systemic barriers such as deliberate denial of access.
UN officials say the current rainy season has further restricted movement; the Tine crossing, which has been the only humanitarian cross-border route from Chad into Darfur since the closure of the Adre crossing in February 2024, is largely inaccessible due to flooding.
Sudan’s humanitarian appeal for $2.7 billion is reportedly only 32% funded, leaving a major funding gap, including for local organizations on the front lines of relief efforts.
“To prevent widespread starvation, donors must urgently increase funding and use diplomacy to open humanitarian access,” the humanitarian coordinator said. “Otherwise, we will see an even more catastrophic situation.”
There are concerns that restrictions on humanitarian access, including obstacles deliberately imposed by parties to the conflict, are severely limiting the ability of aid agencies to effectively scale up their response.
These obstacles have severely hampered the delivery of necessary assistance, exacerbating the food crisis and pushing some families into famine.
Furthermore, basic human needs for health services, water, food, nutrition, shelter and protection are not being met due to the collapse of multiple sectors in the country.
(English stone)
[ad_2]
Source link
