Thirty-two nations declare Sudan faces imminent famine risk

The United States, the European Union, and 30 other nations declared on Monday that food security in Sudan has deteriorated to a critical level. The group issued a joint statement calling for immediate measures to prevent the country from sliding into famine. The signatories placed the primary burden of relief on the armed groups currently engaged in combat.

The statement, released by the US State Department, listed Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the European Commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management among the participants. Twenty-eight European countries joined the US, Australia, and Canada in signing the document. The text described the current food situation as an alarming deterioration that requires urgent action.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a hunger monitoring body backed by the United Nations, previously warned of rising risks. In June, that organization reported that 5.1 million people in Sudan faced severe hunger. The group cited a drought linked to the El Nino phenomenon, which has reduced supplies and driven up food prices this year. Farmers have struggled to harvest crops since the war began in April 2023.

The conflict began in Khartoum when a dispute over force integration turned into clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces. The war has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 13 million. These conditions have created what is now the world’s largest hunger and displacement crisis. The joint statement warned that without immediate action, the number of children with severe acute malnutrition could exceed the projected 825,000.

The signatories urged the warring parties to lift all impediments to humanitarian assistance. They requested that aid be allowed through all routes across front lines and borders, including air access to the Darfur region. The document also called on the parties to protect humanitarian personnel and refrain from striking civilian infrastructure. The statement emphasized the need for the international community to scale up funding to match increased needs.

Last month, the State Department stated that neither the Sudanese army nor the Rapid Support Forces represent legitimate constitutional governance for Sudan. The new statement reiterates the demand for urgent action to ensure assistance reaches the population most affected by the ongoing conflict.