A senior United Nations official has declared that Sudan is facing the world’s largest famine and displacement crisis. According to the UN, 20 million people in Sudan are experiencing acute food insecurity, while 14 million have been displaced. WFP Acting Executive Director A. Carl Skau emphasized that approximately 500,000 people are in emergency levels of famine, with funding shortages potentially hindering aid efforts. (September 16, New York)
Concluding an eight-day visit to Sudan, A. Carl Skau, Acting Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), stated that nearly half a million people are enduring famine at the emergency level (IPC Phase 4). He also highlighted the challenges humanitarian workers face in reaching affected communities.
Skau noted that the city, once home to about one million people and a major regional capital, has endured an 18-month siege marked by the pandemic and severe atrocities. The current situation remains extremely dire. Since the rainy season, women have resorted to using tarpaulins to create better shelters to protect their families, and some improvements have been made. WFP has expanded its operations in response.
Currently, WFP provides assistance to roughly 950,000 people monthly in El Fasher, but this remains insufficient. UN officials report that families receive only half rations, while significant gaps persist in education, healthcare, shelter, and safe play areas. Women, having lost their husbands or sons, have taken on the responsibility of leading their families amid these challenges. Skau also pointed out that drought has increased pressure on the population, with local communities expressing concerns about its impact on agriculture.
Despite these risks, WFP strives to assist between 400,000 and 500,000 people each month. Skau warned that without securing additional resources, the agency may be unable to provide adequate aid in the coming weeks, underscoring that funding shortages remain the greatest challenge at present.
