The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and their adversaries, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), use “starvation tactics” 25 million civilians in Sudan, experts from the United Nations (UN) denounced on Thursday, October 17, in a press release. “Never in modern history have so many people faced hunger and famine as today in Sudan”declared these experts, who have mandates from the Human Rights Council but do not speak on behalf of the UN. “A staggering 97% of displaced people in Sudan, as well as civilians left in their homes, face severe levels of hunger”they insist.
The war in Sudan has been fought since April 2023 between the army, led by General Abdel Fattah Al-Bourhane, and the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (FSR) of his former deputy, General Mohammed Hamdan Daglo. It left tens of thousands dead, displaced more than 10 million people and caused one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, according to the UN.
In July, famine broke out in the Zamzam camp near the town of El-Fasher in Darfur. This is the highest level according to the very precise criteria used by non-governmental organizations and UN humanitarian agencies, based on a scale called the Integrated Food Safety Classification Framework (IPC). Experts talk about the fate of the 500,000 people who gathered in this field to try to escape the fighting and face “worst conditions” of life. According to them, there are other camps for displaced people “threatened by hunger”.
“Consternation”
“To end the famine in Sudan, the RSF and SAF must immediately stop hindering the delivery of aid”experts insist, calling for an end to attacks against local populations and for “Foreign governments stop supporting financially and militarily” both factions. “Two-thirds of Sudan’s population live in rural areas and their livelihoods have been destroyed by war. they explain. We urge local authorities to facilitate safe participation in agricultural activities by supporting crop protection committees. »
The experts expressed “their dismay that international donors and governments have not kept their promises”. The humanitarian response plan in Sudan established by the UN, which estimates the population’s aid needs at 1.44 billion dollars (approximately 1.33 billion euros), is only 50.8% funded.
“Before the start of the conflict, two-thirds of Sudan’s population were already living in extreme poverty, and today even more people face the prospect of total destitution”add UN experts, including Michael Fakhri, special rapporteur on the right to food, supported by a dozen colleagues.
