UN agencies warn of accelerating hunger and looming famine in Sudan

The United Nations and partner agencies issued new warnings Friday about accelerating hunger and a looming famine in Sudan after nearly a year of war disrupted food production and essential services.

Christian Lindmeier, a World Health Organization spokesperson, said more than 8,000,000 people are believed to have been uprooted from their homes and that tens of thousands have been killed or wounded. He warned that “5000000 people were on the brink of famine in areas affected by conflict,” and that every seventh child under 5 is acutely malnourished. Lindmeier added that between 70 and 80 percent of health centers are no longer functioning in affected areas.

New data from the UN Development Programme, UNDP, highlighted an accelerating hunger crisis and said moderate or severe food insecurity already affects nearly six in 10 households, with West Kordofan, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states among the worst hit. UNDP said farming work has been disrupted significantly in several states, including Khartoum and Sennar, and urged immediate food assistance for the most vulnerable.

UN figures and partner agencies said the lean season is about to start in many areas and that without sustained, unrestricted access for aid and urgent funding the situation will worsen in coming months. Daniel Johnson, UN News.