Fifteen nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Jordan, and Nigeria, have expressed serious concerns about the worsening food security situation and warned of an imminent risk of famine in Sudan.
In a collective statement issued on July 15, 2024, these governments have characterised the situation as “alarming” and “unprecedented,” referring to a recent report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
“The disturbing results in the report reveal an unprecedented level of food insecurity in Sudan, leaving 25.6 million people in high levels of acute food insecurity and 14 areas at risk of famine,” the statement read.
The countries are especially concerned about the swift decline in food security and its severe effects on civilians, specifically children who are experiencing severe acute malnutrition.
Morocco, Mauritania, Chad, Comoros, Guinea Bissau, Seychelles, Senegal, Benin, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique are participating in this effort.
“We are concerned about the IPC reporting a ‘stark and rapid deterioration’ in food security and the dire impact of the deteriorating situation on the safety and well-being of civilians,” the statement added.
In response to the crisis, the coalition is calling on the conflicting parties in Sudan to stop fighting and permit the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.
“We appeal to the parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and allow unhindered access for humanitarian assistance to reach affected populations,” the statement read.
The report from the IPC, released on June 27, 2024, shows that Sudan is experiencing its most severe levels of acute food insecurity ever documented in the country, 14 months into the conflict.