In an alert on the situation, the World Food Program (WFP) said it expected between two and 2.5 million more people to face severe hunger in the coming months, due to the conflict that broke out on April 15 between the forces loyal to the rival Generals Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
This development will address the already dire food insecurity in Sudan to “high record”WFP said, with two-fifths of the country’s population affected.
According to the UN agency, the biggest spikes in food insecurity may occur in West Darfur, West Kordofan, Blue Nile, Red Sea and North Darfur states.
The ‘big’ the needs, the scarcer the resources
Meanwhile, the UH High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi shared on Twitter that more than 150,000 people have fled in Sudan – both Sudanese citizens and refugees hosted in the country.
“The need is great. There are many resources. We need help, urgently!” Mr. Grandi refused.
Soaring food prices
UN humanitarian expects money of basic food items from increased by 25 percent in the next three to six months.
If the situation in the country prevents farmers from accessing their fields and planting essential crops between May and July, food prices could rise even more, WFP said.
Rescue help
The UN agency has resumed its work in Sudan, after a brief pause following the killing of three aid workers at the beginning of the conflict. Since last week, and despite the dire security situation, WFP has reached over 35,000 people with food assistance.
The aid is a lifeline for the most vulnerable, including families who have fled the recent conflict, refugees living in Sudan and displaced people and their host communities.
In total, the agency aims to support 4.9 million vulnerable people in areas where the security situation allows, in addition to “Prevention and treatment of malnutrition at scale” for 600,000 children under five and pregnant and lactating women.
WFP also said that the UN Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS), which it manages, started “Regular” air connections between Port Sudan and Addis AbabaEthiopia, to enable “safe transportation of future humanitarian and critical aid”.
WFP workers oversee the distribution of emergency food in a displaced camp in Sudan.
Support for neighboring countries
The UN agency is also providing emergency food aid to thousands who fled to neighboring Sudan Chad, South Sudan, Egypt and the Central African Republicamid funding shortages.
In South Sudan for example, where more than 40,000 returnees have fled across the border, WFP says it is. “having money” and any additional pressure on resources may force him to take food and funding from others to support the new arrivals.
According to figures from the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR’s data portal, the largest flows from Sudan have been to Egypt, which has seen the arrival end. 68,000 Sudanese refugees and close to 5,000 refugees of other countries who fled the conflict.
Last week, the agency appealed for $445 million to support the displaced until October.
The assistant chief hears from the front responders
Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, spoke by telephone with first responders on Wednesday in the capital, Khartoum, including doctors and engineers.
Briefing reporters at the regular press conference in New York, Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said in the call, “Mr. Griffiths heard about this himself.” Community-led humanitarian response and their courageous efforts to provide food, shelter and emergency health support amid the ongoing threat of violence and robbery.”
He once again praised the resilience and creativity of the Sudanese people, stressing that the UN and partners need to continue their support.
