In brief
The UN's World Food Programme warns that the city of El-Fasher in Sudan is nearing starvation, with families trapped and unable to receive food due to the conflict between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The humanitarian crisis continues to escalate as malnutrition among children soars, and the situation worsens with rising food prices and blocked supply routes.
The ongoing civil war in Sudan has now resulted in alarming conditions in the besieged city of El-Fasher. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has raised significant concerns about starvation risks, revealing that no food has been successfully delivered by road to the city in over a year. Approximately 300,000 residents remain trapped as conflict rages, with paramilitary forces from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) surrounding the area for nearly 16 months. Since the outbreak of civil war in April 2023 caused by a rivalry between the army and RSF, the humanitarian situation in Sudan has deteriorated drastically. The WFP reports mounting cases of starvation, as local activists indicate increasing fatalities among residents. Additionally, UNICEF has highlighted rampant malnutrition, particularly alarming in children under five, with some suffering from extreme weight loss.As the RSF seeks to control El-Fasher, local Governor Al-Hafiz Bakhit has reiterated calls for urgent intervention amidst crippling living conditions. Despite being aligned with Sudan's military-led government, the governor's pleas reflect the desperation of citizens as essential supplies dwindle and prices soar. Evidence points to the fact that locals are resorting to consuming animal feed and waste out of desperation as food supplies run dry. The WFP's regional director, Eric Perdison, underscored the critical need for immediate support, warning that ongoing deprivation could lead to more lives lost. The WFP has ready resources for aid deliveries and is awaiting essential cooperation from the RSF, which has withheld support for ceasefire efforts aimed at allowing food access into the city.The situation has prompted calls for humanitarian truce as international bodies advocate for urgent aid access. While parts of Darfur see some food assistance, the risk of a reversal looms large with upcoming rains that threaten road accessibility. UNICEF officials have noted gradual improvements in some areas as military dynamics shift, but resources remain critically limited, and aid continues to be affected by significant funding cuts. The urgent need to prevent further deterioration of child health and general humanitarian conditions remains a pressing concern as the conflict endures.
