Roughly 756,000 people in Sudan might by on the brink of starvation by September, according to a new report by UN-affiliated agencies. They also estimate 25.6 million people in Sudan, or 54 percent of the northeast African country’s population, face critical food shortages, with over nine million in emergency or worse conditions. This is according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), whose analysis is pending approval from international agencies and Sudan’s military-controlled government.
Conflict broke out in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum in April 2023 and emanated outward, restarting an ethnic blood feud in the region of western Darfur and displacing millions. This has led to a breakdown in the food supply. Despite the dire situation, the Sudanese government has previously denied experiencing a famine.
The IPC, which is still finalizing its report, has faced challenges in data collection due to security threats and communication outages. They say the crisis is part of a larger global issue, with other conflict zones like Gaza also facing severe food shortages. The UN has warned of an imminent risk of famine in Sudan, where they say 3.6 million children are acutely malnourished, highlighting the urgent need for international intervention.
Shane Devine is a writer covering politics and business for VT and a regular guest on The Unusual Suspects. Follow Shane’s work here.
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