African, Arab countries sound the alarm on dire food situation and risk of famine in Sudan

Several African and Arab countries have sounded the alarm over the dire food situation and risk of famine in Sudan.

Morocco’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva said that Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Mauritania, Chad, Comoros Islands, Guinea Bissau, Seychelles, Senegal, Benin, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Mozambique, and Nigeria had expressed, in a joint statement, their “deep concern” over the report of the “Integrated Food Security Phase Classification” (IPC), published on June 27, 2024, which concluded that “fourteen months into the conflict, Sudan is facing the worst levels of acute food insecurity ever recorded in the country.”

“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 said.

These countries are particularly concerned about the IPC reporting a “stark and rapid deterioration” in food security and point to the dire impact of the deteriorating situation on the safety and well-being of the civilians, including many thousands of children, suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

They also express their “deep concern” over the repercussions of prolongation of the conflict on Sudan and on the neighboring countries, and particularly recognize that the deepening food insecurity in Sudan presents a significant humanitarian challenge with potential repercussions for displacement, refugees, and migration dynamics. This underscores the importance of a coordinated international response to the crisis, the joint statement said.

Alarmed by the worsening humanitarian crisis and the tragic consequences of the conflict on the Sudanese people, these countries recall the UNSC request for the parties to the conflict to allow the rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, including by removing bureaucratic and other impediments.

They also stress that all parties must facilitate the urgent issuance of visas and travel authorizations for humanitarian workers and essential supplies, in accordance with resolution 2736 adopted on June 13, 2024.

These countries also call on the warring parties in Sudan to immediately halt hostilities, respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and comply with all relevant Security Council resolutions.

They reiterate their call on all foreign actors to cease providing armed or material support to the warring parties to refrain from any action that would heighten tensions and fuel the conflict.

These countries are also urging the international community to deliver an immediate and coordinated international response to address the urgent needs of those affected in Sudan.

In this respect, they note that the international community must scale up its humanitarian aid, and support the IPC recommendations to increase nutrition interventions, restore productive systems and improve data collection.

These countries also stress the urgent necessity to address the crisis and prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation and the impending risk of famine in Sudan including working towards achieving a sustainable resolution of the conflict in Sudan.