The leading expert on food crises globally has identified famine in two regions of conflict-ridden Sudan, specifically in El Fasher, where paramilitary factions have been reportedly engaged in mass killings. According to a report released on Monday by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the cities of El Fasher and Kadugli, located in the Darfur region and South Kordofan province respectively, are experiencing famine. The IPC report highlights the complete breakdown of livelihoods, widespread starvation, severe malnutrition, and fatalities in both areas.
In addition to El Fasher and Kadugli, twenty other locations in Darfur and South Kordofan are facing an elevated risk of famine due to escalating hostilities in recent months. El Fasher has endured an 18-month siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in severe shortages of essential supplies for the populace. Following the city’s capture by RSF forces, reports emerged of widespread violence, including beatings, killings, and sexual assaults against civilians by the RSF.
Kadugli has also been under RSF blockade for several months as the group aims to expand its control over the region at the expense of the Sudanese military. The World Food Program confirmed in April that famine had spread to 10 areas based on IPC data. Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a power struggle between the military and RSF, resulting in over 40,000 reported deaths and displacement of more than 14 million individuals, exacerbating disease outbreaks and plunging parts of the country into famine.
Efforts are underway to negotiate a humanitarian truce in Sudan, with the U.S. engaging with both conflicting factions. Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court is gathering evidence related to recent violence in Darfur. As of September, approximately 375,000 individuals in Darfur and South Kordofan have been classified as facing famine, while another 6.3 million across Sudan are grappling with emergency levels of food insecurity.
Save the Children reported in September that food supplies had depleted in Kadugli due to escalating violence, leading to mass displacements within the city. Despite similar conditions in Dilling, no official famine declaration was made due to insufficient data. The IPC emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire to prevent further loss of life and mitigate acute food insecurity and malnutrition levels in the affected regions.
