The United States, the European Union and 30 countries warned of a sharp drop in food security in Sudan on Monday. They called for urgent action to prevent famine in the African nation.
In a joint statement released by the US State Department, the signatories urged the groups fighting Sudan’s civil war to lift all blocks on humanitarian aid. The statement pointed to warnings from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification about the risk of famine in the coming months.
The parties to the conflict bear primary responsibility for alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people, the statement said. Signatories included Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the European Commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management, alongside 28 European countries.
Sudan’s army has been fighting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023. The conflict erupted when a dispute over how to integrate the two forces led to clashes in the capital, Khartoum. The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced more than 13 million, and created the world’s largest hunger and displacement crises.
In June, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a United Nations-backed hunger monitor known as the IPC, stated that 5.1 million people in Sudan faced severe hunger. Farmers have struggled to harvest crops since the war began. The IPC added that a drought linked to El Nino had driven up food prices and reduced supplies this year.
Without immediate action, the joint statement warned that the number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition could exceed the projected 825,000.
The signatories urged the warring parties to allow humanitarian operations through all routes across front lines and borders, including air access to the region of Darfur. They also called on the parties to sustain the presence and protection of humanitarian personnel throughout Sudan and to refrain from hitting civilian infrastructure.
Faced with a potential famine, the statement called on all members of the international community to urgently scale up funding in response to increased needs and support efforts to ensure assistance reaches those most in need. Last month, the State Department stated that neither the Sudanese army nor the Rapid Support Forces represent legitimate, constitutional governance for Sudan.
