Sudan: Two Years of Armed Conflict and the World's First Famine in Seven Years
April 15, 2025 /3BL/ - Today marks two years since the beginning of the armed conflict in Sudan, which has escalated into one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with 30.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. The Famine Review Committee of the IPC system evaluated in August 2024 that Zamzam camp in North Darfur reached the famine threshold, making it the first formal declaration of famine in more than seven years. Now, 26 million people are facing acute levels of food insecurity in Sudan.
An estimated 12.1 million women and girls in Sudan need support against gender-based and sexual violence, but access to medical and psychosocial care is limited due to the ongoing conflict. Women and girls are especially likely to be displaced from their homes to escape threats of such violence and, in 2024, they represented over 50% of Sudan's refugees.
Conflict-related challenges have inhibited humanitarian organizations' ability to reach populations in need. 'It has become very difficult to work in Sudan. We are worse off than yesterday, but we will continue to work to make the situation better,' says Action Against Hunger's regional head for Africa, Paloma Martin de Miguel. Action Against Hunger reminds all parties to the conflict that prevention of sufficient food aid delivery, including attacks on food production and distribution infrastructure, are in direct violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2417, which should be respected.
Action Against Hunger has been present in Sudan since 2018 and has scaled up efforts to address this unprecedented humanitarian crisis. From April 2023 to December 2024, Action Against Hunger's teams supported 816,943 people with health and nutrition supplies in 15 locations across Blue Nile, Central Darfur, Red Sea, South Kordofan and White Nile. Interventions such as protection measures and medical and psychosocial support were provided to 11,953 people affected by gender-based violence.
Action Against Hunger urges the following actions to be taken immediately
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Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 59 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.
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WIRED
09-07-2025
- WIRED
‘People Are Going to Die': A Malnutrition Crisis Looms in the Wake of USAID Cuts
Jul 9, 2025 6:00 AM Warehouses in the US are full of foods that fight malnutrition, while kids go hungry in places like South Sudan. Photograph:Few lifesaving tools are as effective as ready-to-use therapeutic foods, known as RUTFs, which are specially designed to treat severe malnutrition and often resemble fortified peanut butter. Despite announcing a $50 million pledged to fund RUTFs earlier this summer, the Trump administration's deep cuts to foreign assistance have wreaked havoc on RUTF distribution globally, and the State Department hasn't placed orders with leading suppliers this year. Experts say the disruptions will result in more children dying from hunger. 'Stock is running critically low,' Clement Nkubizi, the country director for the nonprofit Action Against Hunger in South Sudan, tells WIRED. 'People are going to die.' The very existence of RUTFs is a secular miracle. Considered one of the greatest innovations in preventing deaths from hunger since they were invented in the 1990s, RUTFs increase success rates treating childhood malnutrition from 25 percent to over 90 percent, according to Action Against Hunger. Since Donald Trump took office in January, foreign aid in the United States has been gutted beyond the point of recognition. On July 1, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) officially closed, leaving the State Department to administer some of its initiatives while wholly killing countless others. Throughout the radical dismantling of assistance programs, though, leaders like secretary of state Marco Rubio have insisted that certain lifesaving efforts would not be abandoned. Despite those assertions, critical programs have already been jettisoned, and some experts say the fatality toll from the cuts will be up to 14 million preventable deaths. USAID directly funded around 50 percent of the world's production of RUTFs. While the Trump administration has reinstated its RUTF contracts from 2024 after initially cutting them in March, US-based providers like MANA Nutrition and Edesia are still waiting for new orders from the US government. MANA's warehouses are still overflowing with product, up to three times the average amount of back stock the company keeps in case of acute emergencies. 'It's been sold to the US government,' says MANA cofounder David Todd Harmon. 'Nobody's picked it up.' Rhode Island–based Edesia has been filling 2024 orders for its RUTF product, Plumpy'Nut, at a slowed-down pace. This July it finished fulfilling those contracts, and it has not received word from the State Department about future orders. In the meantime, it is filling orders from nongovernmental organizations that are far smaller than the orders that the US government formerly placed. (USAID made up 85 percent of Edesia's customer base; for MANA, it was over 90 percent.) According to Edesia founder Navyn Salem, an order of 122,000 boxes of Plumpy'Nut is currently on its way to Sudan, but Edesia still has 185,000 boxes 'sitting there' waiting to be assigned to a country and for government officials to sign off on transportation contracts. 'For six months, we haven't been shipping anything. That means there are millions of children who are not getting what they need, and we can't catch up fast enough to reach them,' Salem says. Edesia had to lay off 10 percent of its staff in March as USAID was dismantled; Salem says that it took 'many, many, many weeks' for the company to receive partial payment owed by the US government, and that it is still owed money for 2024 orders. 'I believe Marco Rubio when he said, 'We want to continue these programs,'' Salem says. 'Still, we have not had an order in the fiscal year.' 'We are providing $40 million to UNICEF to treat approximately 432,000 children with severe acute malnutrition, and $80 million to the World Food Programme to prevent 1.5 million children from becoming severely wasted,' a State Department spokesperson told WIRED by email when asked about the impacts of the cuts. 'The Administration is working with Edesia and other partners to broaden its partnership network, potentially adding more US-based companies, while also improving shipping efficiency and cost-effective procurement.' Salem noted that the State Department has not communicated any of this with Edesia, and called its statement to WIRED 'not accurate, as of today.' She says she remains 'extremely hopeful' about the situation. In the wake of broader, drastic foreign aid cuts in the United States, other nations have pared back assistance. 'People might have expected that other countries would step up and fill in the gap. 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Since the larger funding withdrawal meant that most of his staff have been laid off and many clinics have shuttered, patients have to travel much farther to get the help they need—often 50 to 100 kilometers. Since most travel by foot, some simply cannot make the journey. 'Now mothers have to travel a long distance with their children,' he says. When these families do reach their destinations, the RUTF supply is dwindling; after traveling all that way, they are no longer guaranteed access to the prescription foods needed to stave off death and further illness. Nkubizi, who was born in a refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo after his family fled conflict in Burundi, knows what it's like to get a chance because of US-funded RUTFs. 'I grew up as a child who needed nutritional support,' he says, noting that assistance from the United States has been viewed as a major force for good in the region. 'Catastrophe—that's the feeling going on here in Africa. People are still hoping they'll wake up and the orders will be reversed.' Stobaugh says that the broader funding cuts have made this crisis even more acute. 'Additional cuts to the health programs are creating a perfect storm, because malnourished children' s bodies have a weakened immune system. They're not strong enough to fight off common childhood illnesses,' she says. 'We have no malnutrition treatment. We also don't have funding for treatment for TB, malaria, HIV immunization programs. With the combination of no nutrition response and no health response, these children don't stand a chance.'
News24
01-07-2025
- News24
Children dying in South Sudan after US aid cuts: NGO
USAID cuts have significantly reduced funding, leading to severe consequences like malnutrition and halted aid in South Sudan. South Sudan faces cholera outbreaks, acute malnutrition among refugees, and a lack of essential supplies amid funding shortfalls. Aid organisations report rising child mortality rates and predict over 14 million global deaths by 2030 due to reduced humanitarian funding. The impact of US aid cuts has already taken a toll in South Sudan and children are dying, Action Against Hunger told AFP on Tuesday. The east African nation has remained deeply poor and unstable since independence in 2011 and is massively dependent on international aid despite its oil wealth. It is among the countries facing shortfalls following US President Donald Trump's decision to slash funding for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which had provided over 40% of global humanitarian aid. The cuts are biting at a time when the country is experiencing multiple crises, including a cholera outbreak that has killed 1 300 people since September. READ | Residents warned after cholera found in Vaal and Harts Rivers Doctors Without Borders said on Tuesday that the Abyei region in northwest South Sudan was the latest to see an outbreak, with more than 330 cholera cases recorded in June thanks to a "critical" lack of water and sanitation facilities. On Tuesday, British journal The Lancet said the cuts to USAID could lead to more than 14 million deaths globally by 2030, including over 4.5 million children under the age of five. "I think it's not just a fear. It's already a reality. We're already having some mortality rates coming in," said Denish Ogen Rwot, Action Against Hunger's communication and advocacy lead in South Sudan. "Already we are having children die," he added. The international NGO provides food and supplies across South Sudan, including in the increasingly violent Jonglei state. Rwot estimated they had lost 30% of their funding due to the USAID cuts. He asked: That means now we'll have facilities without food... and how do we work without these supplies? Rwot recently visited northern Warrap state, near the border with Sudan - itself enduring a civil war - describing the warehouses as "very empty". "They're still registering people, but there is no food for them," he said. The World Food Programme (WFP) warned this week that acute malnutrition rates among refugee children in South Sudan - fleeing the war in Sudan - had "already breached emergency thresholds". Action Against Hunger has been forced to reduce its staffing in the country from 300 to 86, further impacting its ability to respond during a crisis. "We are running on sheer faith," Rwot said.
Associated Press
23-06-2025
- Associated Press
From Refugee to Farmer: Uganda's Model for Empowering Displaced Communities
Published by Action Against Hunger. A Single Mother's Journey from Hardship to Entrepreneurship When you step into Judith Nzale's backyard, you're greeted by a vibrant leafy garden filled with cabbages, lettuce, basil, leeks, onions, tomatoes, lemongrass, and many other indigenous vegetables and herbs. It's a thriving space that instantly inspires you to plant something. Radiant, Judith passionately tends to her garden, an affection she passed on to her eight children. However, Judith's story wasn't always one of abundance. Her journey to self-reliance began in 2018, when she fled the Democratic Republic of Congo, seeking refuge in Uganda. Upon her arrival to the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, the harsh realities of refugee life set in when the settlement was hit by a cholera outbreak. Malnutrition weakened most of the refugees, making them vulnerable to disease. Judith watched helplessly as her fellow refugees succumbed to cholera. 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In 2022, another opportunity came Judith's way. Action Against Hunger offered training on Optimized Land Use Management (OLUM) through its Farmer Graduation Program. Given her past struggles with malnutrition, she was determined to provide her family with a consistent supply of nutritious food. The OLUM approach allowed her to cultivate a year-round harvest of fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs on the tiny piece of land she had been given through Action Against Hunger's program. The Farmer Graduation Program is separated into three levels based on need and farming ability, ensuring that the proper support is given to those who need it most. Level 1 farmers, with limited resources and knowledge, are taught the OLUM approach on small plots of land. Level 2 farmers, like Judith, access a larger plot, meaning they have the potential to scale up production and join a farmer group in which they receive training through farmer field and market schools. Level 3 farmers, with advanced skills and resources, focus on commercial production and value addition. Judith belongs to a farmer group named 'Tunda lalo' which is Swahili for 'its fruits.' She and her group members began cultivating maize and beans, and using the earnings from the farm's surplus, opened a shop to sell some of her harvest. This venture allowed her to buy products in bulk and supply other traders in the community. She also started a poultry business, further diversifying her income. While expanding her agricultural endeavors, she continued to nurture her thriving backyard garden Judith, single mother facing unimaginable hardship has become a resourceful farmer, businesswoman, and community leader. With the right resources and a determined mindset, refugees like her can build a brighter future for themselves and their communities. The Uganda Refugee Model: an Important Precedent for the World to Look To Judith's story is an example of what can happen when refugees are supported with resources to regain agency over the direction of their lives. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Refugees are forced to flee their homes for reasons such as persecution, conflict, or hunger, often with few belongings to help them start anew. There are currently 36.8 million refugees in the world, many of them facing inadequate access to food and water and increased risk of diseases as they make long, exhausting journeys in search of safety. Once settled in another country, refugees can experience barriers to employment, healthcare, and food security. Many countries have strict regulations on refugees, such as requiring them to live in camps or denying them the possibility of obtaining work permits. Additional challenges like language barriers, discrimination, and post-traumatic stress can play a role in limiting refugees' opportunities. Recognizing the immense challenges refugees face, Uganda developed a plan to welcome them with dignity and opportunities to rebuild their lives. The Refugee Act (2006) was created using humanitarian principles as a guide for government's refugee response plan. It established a set of rights that every refugee is entitled to, including — among many more — the rights to: Fostering good relationships between refugees and the communities that host them is a priority for Uganda. Refugees and nationals work and live closely together: they go to the same schools, access the same healthcare services, participate in Village Savings and Loans Associations together, and more. Refugees like Judith who participate in block farming initiatives benefit from access to host community markets to sell their produce, and the host communities enjoy improved availability of fresh produce. The Uganda Refugee Act creates a strong framework for governments, aid organizations, and other stakeholders to come together, supporting immediate needs of refugees and host communities while innovating solutions to the challenges refugees and host communities face. By enshrining refugee rights in law based on humanitarian principles, Uganda set an example for the world. It has continued to improve its approach with a bi-annual review of needs and an updated version of The Uganda Country Refugee Response Plan, which aims to holistically respond to challenges refugees and host communities face. At the most recent Global Refugee Forum in 2023, Uganda was a co-convener, recognized for its leadership in refugee response. 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The milestone Uganda Refugee Act of 2006 has not yet been in place for twenty years, and systemic change requires long-term, sustained growth. Like the seeds Judith received to start her garden, this legislation provides seeds of opportunity to learn about and improve refugee response plans. It must be cultivated and pruned by all stakeholders to grow. With a strong foundation in respect for refugees and host communities, Uganda's approach is already yielding fruit for Judith and thousands of others. *** Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.
