Famine Declared in Sudan as Violence Escalates in Darfur

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has declared famine in two regions of Sudan, specifically in the cities of El Fasher and Kadugli. This announcement comes amid escalating violence, particularly in El Fasher, where the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has reportedly engaged in mass killings. The IPC’s report, released on Monday, highlights the dire situation, detailing the “total collapse of livelihoods, starvation, extremely high levels of malnutrition, and death” in these areas.

El Fasher, located in the Darfur region, has been under siege by the RSF for the past 18 months. This blockade has severely restricted food and essential supplies for tens of thousands of residents. Following the RSF’s takeover of the city last week, reports indicate a surge in violence, with hundreds of fatalities, including at least 460 deaths occurring in a hospital, as reported by the World Health Organization. Communication with the region remains limited, making it difficult to assess the full impact of the violence.

In addition to El Fasher, the city of Kadugli in South Kordofan has also been besieged by RSF forces for several months. The World Food Program (WFP) highlighted in April that famine conditions had already been confirmed in ten areas of Sudan. As of September, approximately 375,000 people in Darfur and South Kordofan are facing famine, while another 6.3 million individuals nationwide are experiencing emergency levels of food insecurity.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan began in April 2023, fueled by a power struggle between the military and the RSF. According to United Nations estimates, the death toll has surpassed 40,000, although humanitarian organizations believe the actual number may be significantly higher. The violence has displaced more than 14 million people, leading to disease outbreaks and widespread famine.

The IPC has classified famine as Phase 5 on its food insecurity scale, which is characterized by acute starvation affecting at least one in five people or households. The criteria also include malnutrition rates exceeding 30 percent among children under five and a mortality rate of at least two individuals, or four children, per 10,000 people due to malnutrition-related causes. Famine has been confirmed only a few times in recent history, notably in northern Gaza earlier this year and in parts of Somalia and South Sudan in previous years.

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan has drawn international attention, with the UN labeling it the world’s largest humanitarian emergency. The situation is further exacerbated by the RSF’s focus on consolidating control over the Darfur region and advancing into South Kordofan. Reports from the IPC indicate that other towns near El Fasher, such as Tawila, Melit, and Tawisha, are also at risk of famine as they receive an influx of displaced individuals fleeing the violence.

In light of the escalating crisis, the IPC has called for an immediate ceasefire, emphasizing that this is the only measure that can “prevent further loss of life and help contain the extreme levels of acute food insecurity and acute malnutrition.” The ongoing civil war has led to horrific consequences, and without intervention, the violence and humanitarian disaster are likely to continue unabated.