25.6 MILLION PEOPLE ARE FACING ACUTE HUNGER IN SUDAN – Hundreds are estimated to be dying from starvation
A total of 25.6 million people are facing acute hunger, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) – the hunger watchdog.
More than half of the people in the nation of 50 million are suffering from severe hunger. Hundreds are estimated to be dying from starvation and hunger-related diseases each day.
But the international aid containing cooking oil, salt, grain, lentils and more – is unable to reach millions of people who desperately need it.
In August, the IPC reported that the war in Sudan and restrictions on aid delivery have caused famine in at least one location, in the state of North Darfur, and that 13 other areas of the country were potentially experiencing famine.
Earlier, the IPC announced that nine million people – almost a fifth of Sudan’s population – are in a food emergency or worse, meaning immediate action is needed to save lives.
The two warring parties in the country – Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – have blamed each other for hold-ups in the delivery of aid.
Army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo both said this week they were committed to facilitating the flow of aid.