The UN's World Food Programme has raised alarms about starvation risks in el-Fasher, Sudan, as the city remains surrounded by forces seeking to control it. With food supply routes disrupted for over a year, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate for the approximately 300,000 residents.
El-Fasher Faces Humanitarian Catastrophe as Starvation Looms
El-Fasher Faces Humanitarian Catastrophe as Starvation Looms
UN warns of starvation crisis in besieged Sudan city, as families resort to desperate measures amidst ongoing civil war.
Residents of the besieged Sudanese city of el-Fasher are facing an impending starvation crisis, as the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) issues grave warnings regarding the deteriorating humanitarian conditions. The city, located in the western Darfur region, has been cut off from food supplies by road for over a year due to its prolonged siege by paramilitary fighters belonging to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
As the civil war in Sudan enters its third year, local reports indicate that families within el-Fasher are beginning to succumb to starvation, prompting the WFP to act. It is estimated that around 300,000 people remain trapped in the city. The conflict erupted in April 2023 amid a power struggle between the Sudanese army and the RSF, leading to one of the most critical humanitarian emergencies globally.
UNICEF has also highlighted the widespread malnutrition in the country, particularly affecting children, with many displaying severe weight loss due to inadequate food resources. The WFP added that severe shortages have skyrocketed food prices and forced families to resort to consuming animal feed and discarded food scraps as survival measures.
The warning from the WFP coincides with urgent appeals from North Darfur Governor Al-Hafiz Bakhit, who described the living conditions in el-Fasher as unbearable. Aligned with the military-led government, Bakhit has called for immediate assistance to prevent further suffering.
Despite the ongoing conflict, WFP officials report that aid trucks are positioned and ready to deliver food and nutritional support. However, they are seeking cooperation from the RSF for a ceasefire to ensure safe delivery. Tensions remain high as previous humanitarian convoys have been attacked, leading to blame being directed at both the army and RSF.
Recent reports from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicate that more than one million people have fled el-Fasher due to increasing violence, including attacks on refugees attempting to escape the city. While some progress has been made in delivering aid to other parts of Darfur, these gains are at risk of being nullified as the rainy season approaches, which could block access to the region.
In light of the funding shortages and urgent need for intervention, UNICEF's representative in Sudan warned of a grim future for children facing stark malnutrition disparities—an irreversible crisis that could impact an entire generation. He emphasized the need for immediate and collective action to address the dire circumstances facing Sudan's vulnerable populations.
