UN warns of catastrophic hunger crisis in Sudan
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In a stark warning during a UN Security Council meeting, the United States highlighted the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan, where famine is reportedly imminent. The focus was on Al Fashir, a city in North Darfur that has become a battleground amid ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the rebel paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Al Fashir, which previously housed over 800,000 internally displaced individuals, is now under siege, exacerbating the already critical situation for the vulnerable population.
Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale, reported catastrophic damage in Al Fashir, with significant destruction of civilian infrastructure documented in just a few weeks of fighting. Satellite imagery revealed extensive devastation, including burned villages and destroyed refugee camps. The UN has indicated that the city's only operational hospital capable of performing surgeries has been looted and shut down, further endangering lives.
The RSF has been accused of conducting ethnically targeted attacks reminiscent of the Darfur genocide in the 1990s, raising alarms about the potential for a prolonged conflict if they capture Al Fashir. The UN estimates that 2 million Sudanese are at risk of slipping into catastrophic hunger, with urgent calls for international funding to address the crisis. However, the lack of enforcement mechanisms in recent security resolutions has raised concerns about the effectiveness of international efforts to curb arms shipments that have fueled the conflict.
Dr. Yasser El Amin, president of the Sudanese American Physicians Association, shared firsthand accounts of the humanitarian crisis, noting the alarming rates of malnutrition among children and the severe limitations faced by hospitals, with nearly 60% of facilities nonoperational. He emphasized that the crisis is man-made, driven by the actions of the SAF and RSF, and highlighted a growing sense of lawlessness as civilians increasingly arm themselves for protection.
As the conflict enters its second year, the situation in Sudan remains critical, with the international community urged to take decisive action to prevent further deterioration of humanitarian conditions.
Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale, reported catastrophic damage in Al Fashir, with significant destruction of civilian infrastructure documented in just a few weeks of fighting. Satellite imagery revealed extensive devastation, including burned villages and destroyed refugee camps. The UN has indicated that the city's only operational hospital capable of performing surgeries has been looted and shut down, further endangering lives.
The RSF has been accused of conducting ethnically targeted attacks reminiscent of the Darfur genocide in the 1990s, raising alarms about the potential for a prolonged conflict if they capture Al Fashir. The UN estimates that 2 million Sudanese are at risk of slipping into catastrophic hunger, with urgent calls for international funding to address the crisis. However, the lack of enforcement mechanisms in recent security resolutions has raised concerns about the effectiveness of international efforts to curb arms shipments that have fueled the conflict.
Dr. Yasser El Amin, president of the Sudanese American Physicians Association, shared firsthand accounts of the humanitarian crisis, noting the alarming rates of malnutrition among children and the severe limitations faced by hospitals, with nearly 60% of facilities nonoperational. He emphasized that the crisis is man-made, driven by the actions of the SAF and RSF, and highlighted a growing sense of lawlessness as civilians increasingly arm themselves for protection.
As the conflict enters its second year, the situation in Sudan remains critical, with the international community urged to take decisive action to prevent further deterioration of humanitarian conditions.
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