UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, during a briefing on Wednesday, revealed that the Famine Review Committee of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has confirmed that there is reasonable evidence of famine conditions in at least five areas of Sudan.
The affected areas are Zamzam, Abu Shouk, and Al Salam camps in North Darfur and two locations in the Western Nuba Mountains – which is impacting both residents and internally displaced persons.
“There are reports of people dying of starvation in some areas like Darfur, Kordofan, and Khartoum. Currently, around 638,000 people are confirmed to be in catastrophic hunger conditions – which classifies as IPC phase 5. All of this, to say the least, is a very horrific and sad situation,” Dujarric said. “A record 4.7 million children under the age of five and pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls are suffering from acute malnutrition in Sudan. People in Zamzam camp, which, as you know – as we’ve told you – had been regularly bombed, are resorting to extreme measures to survive because food is so scarce. Families are eating peanut shells mixed with oil, which is typically used to feed animals.”
“That’s why we keep calling on all parties to silence the guns and put the interest of their people first and foremost,” he added.
The UN said they urgently need to expand access and open new corridors – both cross-border and across conflict frontlines – to provide assistance and save people from dying of starvation.
“And on cross-border, we welcome the decision by the authorities in Sudan to keep the Adre border crossing open,” the UN mouthpiece stated.
Asked about the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and other opposition groups forming a parallel government, Dujarric said they had seen extensive reports about the anticipated announcement by the RSF and others to establish a parallel government or a parallel governing body.
“We are very deeply concerned about any further escalation of the Sudanese conflict and any steps like this one, which would increase the fragmentation of the country and risk making this crisis even worse. I just read, I think, three pages about famine in Sudan. We keep talking about Zamzam and other places where starving people are being killed and being bombed,” he explained. “For us, preserving the unity of Sudan, the sovereignty, and the territorial integrity remains a key ingredient for a sustainable resolution of the conflict and the long-term stability of the country in the wider region. We yet again renew our call for an immediate cessation of hostilities to spare the Sudanese people any further arms [sic].”