Sudan Unrest: WFP Warns of Food Crisis as Conflict Intensifies

By Adedapo Adesanya

The explosion of violence in Sudan has the potential to plunge millions more into hunger, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said, as it called for a temporary halt to operations providing life-saving food and cash assistance in a country where a third of the population already struggles to get enough food to eat.

Record numbers of people were already facing hunger in Sudan before the conflict erupted on April 15.

In 2023, WFP planned to support more than 7.6 million people but due to the development, ongoing fighting is preventing WFP from delivering critical emergency food, providing school meals for children, or preventing and treating malnutrition.

WFP also cannot carry out its work to support farmers to boost agriculture productivity in a project that aims to more than double Sudan’s annual wheat production, nor help people rebuild their livelihoods.

Amid the unrest, three WFP employees have lost their lives, while two others sustained severe injuries, just as its staff, offices, vehicles, equipment, and food stocks have come in the direct line of fire.

The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), managed by WFP on behalf of the international community, has been completely grounded. UNHAS flies to over 30 destinations in Sudan, carrying around 26,000 passengers and light humanitarian cargo annually. One aircraft has been damaged beyond repair at Khartoum International Airport. Meanwhile, at least ten vehicles and six food trucks have been stolen.

WFP said its guesthouses, offices, and warehouses in Nyala, South Darfur, have been overrun and looted, with the loss of up to 4,000 metric tons of food for hungry people.

WFP, in a statement, called on all parties to the conflict to take immediate steps to guarantee the safety of humanitarian workers and to protect humanitarian assets and premises in Sudan.

“WFP urges all parties to put an end to the fighting and come to an agreement that enables the continued delivery of vital food and humanitarian assistance,” it said.

What’s Happening in Sudan?

General Abdel Fattah Burhan, head of the armed forces, and General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces that grew out of Darfur’s notorious Janjaweed militias, are each seeking to seize control of Sudan.

The fighting, which began as the country attempted to transition to democracy, has killed hundreds of people and left millions trapped in urban areas, sheltering from gunfire, explosions and looters.

The airports across the country have all been closed since the fighting began, and there is fighting in the streets.

Due to the intensity of the conflict, aid and supply cannot get go into the country, and many have fled to neighbouring countries like Chad.

Now, Chad has closed its border. So, if the situation does not change and humanitarian access is not granted by the fighting parties, there will likely be greater loss of life.