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NDTV
3 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
Famine Risk Stalks South Of Sudan's Capital Khartoum: World Food Programme
Khartoum, Sudan: Areas around the south of the Sudanese capital Khartoum are at high risk of famine, the World Food Programme warned on Tuesday, calling for an immediate international response. Laurent Bukera, WFP's Sudan representative and country director, said the UN agency had found "severe" levels of hunger in Jabal Awliya, a town around 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Khartoum. Mr Bukera was speaking after returning from Khartoum State, where WFP opened a new office in Omdurman, a part of greater Khartoum. "The needs are immense," he told a press briefing in Geneva, speaking from Port Sudan. "We saw widespread destruction, limited access to water, healthcare and electricity, and a cholera outbreak. In parts of the city, life is returning -- but many neighbourhoods remain abandoned, like a ghost city. "Several areas in the south of the city are at high risk of famine," he said. "The international community must act now -- by stepping up funding to stop famine in the hardest-hit areas and to invest in Sudan's recovery." Sudan's regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been locked in a battle for power since April 2023. The RSF lost control of Khartoum in March. Now that WFP has access to the area and is able to make regular aid deliveries, the agency said it was doing everything it could to bring the local population back from the brink of famine. Bukera said "the level of hunger, destitution and desperation" found in Jabal Awliya was "severe, and basically confirmed the risk of famine". The war has killed tens of thousands of people and created the world's largest hunger and displacement crises. Bukera said that with people expected to return to heavily damaged areas like Khartoum, the pressure on already over-stretched resources would intensify. "WFP is deeply concerned, and meeting basic needs -- especially food -- is critical and urgent," he said. Famine has been declared in five areas across Sudan, including three displacement camps near El-Fasher in the southwest. It has been all but confirmed in El-Fasher itself, where aid agencies say a lack of access to data has prevented an official famine declaration. Across the country, nearly 25 million people are suffering dire food insecurity. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- General
- Al-Ahram Weekly
High risk of famine south of Khartoum: WFP - War in Sudan
Areas south of Khartoum, war-ravaged Sudan's capital, are at high risk of famine, the UN's World Food Programme warned Tuesday, appealing for funds to plug a huge food aid shortfall. Laurent Bukera, WFP's Sudan representative and country director, said the agency had found "severe" levels of hunger in Jabal Awliya, a town around 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Khartoum. Bukera was speaking after returning from Khartoum State, where WFP opened a new office in Omdurman, a part of greater Khartoum. "The needs are immense," he told a press briefing in Geneva, speaking from Port Sudan. "We saw widespread destruction, limited access to water, healthcare and electricity, and a cholera outbreak. In parts of the city, life is returning -- but many neighbourhoods remain abandoned, like a ghost city". Sudan's regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in a battle for power since April 2023. Tens of thousands of people have died and 13 million have been displaced, including four million abroad, triggering what the UN has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis. "WFP is deeply concerned, and meeting basic needs -- especially food -- is critical and urgent," said Bukera. The RSF lost control of Khartoum in March. "Several areas in the south of the city are at high risk of famine," Bukera said. The WFP now has access to the area and can make regular aid deliveries and said it was doing everything to bring the local population back from the brink of famine. "The level of hunger, destitution and desperation" at the first distributions in Jabal Awliya last month was "severe, and basically confirmed the risk of famine in those areas," Bukera said. "The international community must act now -- by stepping up funding to stop famine in the hardest-hit areas and to invest in Sudan's recovery." Funding shortfall Famine has been declared in five areas across Sudan, including three displacement camps near El-Fasher in the southwest. It has been all but confirmed in El-Fasher itself, where aid agencies say a lack of access to data has prevented an official famine declaration. Last Wednesday, five aid workers were killed in besieged El-Fasher in an area controlled by the RSF. Across the country, nearly 25 million people are suffering dire food insecurity. WFP is now reaching four million people per month in Sudan -- a near four-fold increase since the start of 2024. It aims to reach seven million monthly, prioritising areas facing famine or at extreme risk. Bukera said WFP was short of more than $500 million for emergency food and cash assistance over the coming six months -- and short of $700 million overall, across all its operations in Sudan. With displaced people expected to return to heavily-damaged areas like Khartoum, the pressure on already over-stretched resources would intensify. Bukera said food could bring an element of stability in Khartoum and "anchor the peace". "This is the moment to stand with the Sudanese people as they rebuild their lives... after two years of devastating conflict, we see light at the end of the tunnel." Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Famine risk stalks south of Khartoum
A Sudanese mother holds her malnourished child amidst a parched landscape. A distant aid station offers a glimmer of hope. Areas around the south of the Sudanese capital Khartoum are at high risk of famine, the World Food Programme warned Tuesday, calling for an immediate international response. Laurent Bukera, WFP's Sudan representative and country director, said the UN agency had found "severe" levels of hunger in Jabal Awliya, a town around 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Khartoum. Bukera was speaking after returning from Khartoum State, where WFP opened a new office in Omdurman, a part of greater Khartoum. "The needs are immense," he told a press briefing in Geneva, speaking from Port Sudan. "We saw widespread destruction, limited access to water, healthcare and electricity, and a cholera outbreak. In parts of the city, life is returning -- but many neighbourhoods remain abandoned, like a ghost city. "Several areas in the south of the city are at high risk of famine," he said. "The international community must act now -- by stepping up funding to stop famine in the hardest-hit areas and to invest in Sudan's recovery." Sudan's regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been locked in a battle for power since April 2023. The RSF lost control of Khartoum in March. Now that WFP has access to the area and is able to make regular aid deliveries, the agency said it was doing everything it could to bring the local population back from the brink of famine. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 올 봄 패션 트렌드는? "이 반지로 준비 끝이에요" 굿네이버스 더 알아보기 Undo Bukera said "the level of hunger, destitution and desperation" found in Jabal Awliya was "severe, and basically confirmed the risk of famine". The war has killed tens of thousands of people and created the world's largest hunger and displacement crises. Bukera said that with people expected to return to heavily damaged areas like Khartoum, the pressure on already over-stretched resources would intensify. "WFP is deeply concerned, and meeting basic needs -- especially food -- is critical and urgent," he said. Famine has been declared in five areas across Sudan, including three displacement camps near El-Fasher in the southwest. It has been all but confirmed in El-Fasher itself, where aid agencies say a lack of access to data has prevented an official famine declaration. Across the country, nearly 25 million people are suffering dire food insecurity.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Some areas south of Sudan capital at risk of famine, says World Food Programme
Some areas south of Sudan capital at risk of famine, says World Food Programme GENEVA - Several areas south of Sudan's capital Khartoum are at risk of famine, the World Food Programme said on Tuesday, with need on the ground outstripping resources amidst a food aid funding shortfall for war-ravaged Sudanese regions. "The level of hunger and destitution and desperation that was found (is) severe and confirmed the risk of famine in those areas," Laurent Bukera, WFP Country Director in Sudan, told reporters in Geneva via video link from Port Sudan. The U.N. food agency said it had reached one million people in seven localities in Khartoum, after gaining access to the capital. Sudan's conflict between the army and rival Rapid Support Forces has displaced millions and split the country into rival zones of control with the RSF still deeply embedded in western Sudan. In late March the army took control of the capital from the RSF -- which had blocked aid access to the city -- following two years of devastating conflict. Jebel Awlia was an example of a locality cited by the WFP where there is severe hunger. The agency said rations of oil and pulses had been reduced in its food distributions, because it faces a funding shortfall of $500 million for emergency food and cash assistance, as donor states reduce humanitarian funding. "Supplements for young children and pregnant and nursing mothers are out of reach because of a lack of resources ... Without urgent support we will not be able to deliver the food package that the Sudanese need," Bukera added. In April the WFP said rations in areas at risk of famine have been reduced to 70% of a standard WFP ration (equal to 2100 kcal per day). The WFP said it is currently assisting four million people across Sudan. War in Sudan erupted in April 2023, sparked by a power struggle between the army and the RSF. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Reuters
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
UN halts food help in Sudan camp, warns thousands could starve
Summary World Food Programme cites worsening violence in region WFP move comes two days after MSF suspended work in Zamzam Zamzam in North Darfur home to about half a million people Famine in Zamzam was confirmed by global experts in August UNITED NATIONS/CAIRO, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The United Nations World Food Programme has temporarily stopped distributing food aid in a famine-struck camp for displaced people in Sudan's North Darfur amid escalating violence, warning that thousands of families could starve in the coming weeks. The move comes two days after medical charity MSF suspended its activities in Zamzam camp, which has been the target of repeated attacks by Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as it seeks to oust the Sudanese army and allied forces. "Without immediate assistance, thousands of desperate families in Zamzam could starve in the coming weeks," said Laurent Bukera, WFP's east Africa director. "We must resume the delivery of life-saving aid in and around Zamzam safely, quickly and at scale. For that the fighting must stop, and humanitarian organizations must be granted security guarantees," Bukera said. War erupted in April 2023 amid a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF ahead of a planned transition to civilian rule, triggering the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis. Senior U.N. aid official Edem Wosornu told the Security Council on Wednesday that satellite imagery confirmed the use of heavy weaponry in and around Zamzam in recent weeks, and the destruction of the main market facilities within the camp. "Terrified civilians, including humanitarian workers, were unable to leave the area when the fighting was most intense. Many were killed, including at least two humanitarian workers," she told the 15-member council. AID ACCESS Famine was confirmed in August in Zamzam camp by a global committee of food security experts. Since then WFP said it has only been able to get one aid convoy into Zamzam despite repeated attempts, blaming "poor road conditions during the rainy season, purposeful obstruction by the Rapid Support Forces" and fighting along the route between the RSF and Sudanese army-affiliated forces. The closure of the Adre border crossing into Darfur from Chad in the first half of 2024 also stopped WFP from stockpiling food in Zamzam to ensure consistent support later in the year, the U.N. agency said. "Nearly two years of relentless conflict in Sudan have inflicted immense suffering and turned parts of the country into a hellscape," Wosornu told the Security Council. She added that more than 12 million people had been displaced and half the country - 24.6 million people – were experiencing acute hunger. "We need real implementation of the repeated commitments to facilitate and enable unhindered, unfettered humanitarian access to civilians in need," she said. In November, Russia - which backs the Sudanese government - vetoed a Security Council draft resolution that called on Sudan's warring parties to stop fighting and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.
