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UN: Famine confirmed in at least five areas of Sudan; 638,000 in catastrophic hunger
Summary
A United Nations briefing said the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has found reasonable evidence of famine in at least five areas of Sudan, with roughly 638,000 people confirmed in catastrophic hunger and millions more facing acute malnutrition.
The United Nations spokesperson said the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has confirmed “reasonable evidence of famine conditions in at least five areas of Sudan,” including Zamzam, Abu Shuk and Al Salem camps in North Darfur and two locations in the Western Nuba Mountains.
The finding matters because it signals the highest level of acute food crisis and requires urgent and scaled humanitarian access and assistance to prevent further deaths. The spokesperson said 638,000 people are “confirmed to be in the catastrophic hunger conditions, which they classify as IPC phase 5.”
UN officials told reporters there also are reports of people dying of starvation in parts of Darfur, Kordofan and Khartoum. The spokesperson said a “record 4,700,000 children and pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls are suffering from acute malnutrition in Sudan.” The briefing described people in Zamzam camp as resorting to extreme measures to survive and said the camp has been regularly bombed.
Access constraints and active conflict are impeding relief. The spokesperson said humanitarian convoys face long, hazardous journeys and that access to the affected locations is “extremely limited,” with roads that in normal times take weeks and that have become almost impossible as fighting continues. The briefing called for “an immediate cessation of hostilities” and expanded humanitarian corridors for cross-line and cross-border assistance. The spokesperson welcomed the decision by Sudanese authorities to keep the Adre border crossing open.
UN officials appealed for increased humanitarian access and resources to avert further deaths from starvation and disease. The spokesperson said the situation is “horrific and sad,” urging all parties to “silence the guns and put their interest of their people first and foremost.”
Looking ahead, the UN will continue to press for safe, sustained access for relief convoys and for international support to scale food, nutrition and health assistance where IPC assessments have identified famine and catastrophic conditions.
