The situation in Darfur, Sudan, is dire and urgent, with a UN agency warning that time is running out to prevent widespread starvation due to escalating violence in the region.
According to Michael Dunford, the regional director for Eastern Africa at the World Food Programme (WFP), people in Darfur have resorted to eating "grass and peanut shells" as they await assistance. He emphasized the critical need for aid to prevent widespread starvation and death in Darfur and other conflict-affected areas of Sudan.
Civil war has ravaged Sudan since April 2023, initially involving clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This conflict has led to reports of sexual violence, genocidal acts, and significant civilian casualties, prompting a mass exodus of refugees.
Recent violence includes the killing of two International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) drivers by gunmen in South Darfur, leaving three others injured. The ICRC team was attacked while heading to assess the crisis among communities affected by armed violence in the region.
The situation is particularly intense in North Darfur's capital, El Fasher, where the RSF is encircling the city. There have been reports of arbitrary killings, village burnings, and air bombardments. El Fasher is currently the only major city in Darfur not captured by the RSF and hosts thousands of displaced individuals.
In response to the violence, more than 36,000 people have fled their homes in El Fasher recently. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported at least 43 deaths in and around the city since the recent escalation of fighting.
The conflict has severely impacted aid delivery efforts, with food assistance becoming intermittent due to ongoing fighting and bureaucratic obstacles. The World Food Programme (WFP) noted that around 1.7 million people in the region are facing emergency levels of hunger.
The humanitarian situation is further compounded by restrictions on aid deliveries imposed by authorities in Port Sudan, hindering relief transportation via neighboring Chad.
Overall, the conflict in Sudan has displaced more than 8.7 million people, including 4.6 million children, with an estimated 24.8 million individuals in need of assistance, according to OCHA. The situation remains critical and demands immediate and sustained international attention and intervention to prevent further suffering and loss of life in Darfur and across Sudan.