UN appeals for $6 Billion to cope with Sudan’s severe hunger crisis

The United Nations has launched on Monday February 17 an urgent appeal for $6 billion in humanitarian aid to alleviate what it has described as the world’s worst-ever hunger crisis in Sudan, exacerbated by ongoing civil conflict.

This plea comes amid a mass displacement of people and widespread food insecurity, following 22 months of brutal warfare between Sudan’s Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The funds are vital to address the humanitarian catastrophe, as the conflict continues to deepen its toll on the population, with nearly half of Sudan’s 48 million people facing severe hunger.

The requested sum marks a dramatic increase of over 40% from last year’s appeal, reflecting the worsening situation on the ground. With global aid budgets already under pressure, particularly after the U.S. paused its funding to life-saving programs last month, the UN is struggling to secure the necessary resources. World Food Programme (WFP) head, Cindy McCain, addressing diplomats in Geneva, called Sudan the “epicenter of the world’s largest and most severe hunger crisis ever” and underscored the urgency of the situation. Famine has already been reported in at least five locations, including Darfur, where camps for displaced persons are facing horrific conditions.

The ongoing conflict has displaced one in five Sudanese citizens and is expected to worsen the country’s already dire food insecurity. In some regions, including Darfur, famine conditions are becoming increasingly prevalent. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher warned that the scale of the crisis is unprecedented and requires an equally unprecedented international response. Despite some aid agencies receiving waivers from Washington to assist with famine relief, the uncertainty surrounding funding and support raises concerns about the future of life-saving operations in Sudan.