The UN warns Sudan is facing mass starvation with over 600,000 at risk. Ongoing conflict has led to famine in key areas, with crucial aid operations suspended. Currently, up to 30.4 million people need assistance due to widespread violence and health crises, especially cholera outbreaks. Immediate action is needed to address the worsening humanitarian catastrophe.
The United Nations has issued a grave warning regarding the alarming levels of starvation in Sudan, with over 600,000 people on the brink of famine due to ongoing conflict. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk emphasized that famine has now taken hold in five specific areas, including Zamzam refugee camp in North Darfur, where operations by UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) were recently halted because of escalating violence.
Turk addressed the UN Human Rights Council, stating Sudan is at a critical juncture, potentially facing famine in several additional areas within three months. He labeled this situation as the “world’s largest humanitarian catastrophe” and warned of escalating violence and atrocity crimes unless immediate measures are taken to cease hostilities and provide essential aid.
The humanitarian crisis has worsened since the war erupted in April 2023, with tens of thousands killed and millions displaced. Up to 30.4 million individuals require urgent assistance, including food and healthcare, as the country’s healthcare system struggles with less than 30 percent of facilities operational, which has led to a spread of diseases in displacement camps.
Cholera is rampant, particularly in the White Nile region, with at least 70 fatalities and over 2,200 infections reported. The disease surge has been linked to disruptions in access to clean water due to a drone strike on a local power station. Save the Children reported over 55,000 cholera cases since the outbreak began, highlighting the severe implications for children in the region, who face dire conditions of violence, disease, and hunger.
Sudan is confronting an imminent famine affecting over 600,000 individuals amidst ongoing conflict, as highlighted by the UN. The humanitarian crisis requires urgent intervention to avert widespread starvation and further violence. With over 30 million people in need of aid and rampant disease outbreaks complicating the situation, the international community must take decisive action to support Sudan’s vulnerable populations.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
