Acute hunger grips nearly 20 million people in war-battered Sudan, says IPC

"More than 40 percent of Sudan's population is facing acute hunger, according to a report by a global hunger monitor, the three-year civil war having created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Nearly 19.5 million Sudanese people are facing such dire circumstances, the United Nations-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said on Thursday."

"The IPC report stated that 14 areas in the country's North Darfur, South Darfur, and South Kordofan states remain at risk of famine, where 135,000 people face catastrophic levels of hunger. Those areas include the cities of el-Fasher and Kadugli, judged last year to be experiencing famine largely as a result of sieges by the RSF."

"But in October, the RSF completed their takeover of el-Fasher, largely emptying the city, while this year the army broke the siege of Kadugli. As a result of the hunger crisis, families have been forced into very negative coping mechanisms, said Grace Oongee, from the Norwegian Refugee Council."

"We've had reports of families who've been forced to eat leaves, who've been forced to eat animal feed, even reports of families breaking into slaughterhouses that have been closed down just to get the skin of the animals to be able to eat and to survive, Oonge told Al Jazeera, speaking from the city of Port Sudan. Both a lack of access to food and health facilities will ultimately lead to death for many, she warned."

More than 40% of Sudan’s population faces acute hunger, with nearly 19.5 million people in dire circumstances after a three-year civil war. The conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces has produced one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, including widespread displacement and mass deaths. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification identifies 14 areas in North Darfur, South Darfur, and South Kordofan as at risk of famine, where 135,000 people face catastrophic hunger levels. Cities such as el-Fasher and Kadugli have been affected by sieges and shifting control. Families are using extreme coping strategies, including eating leaves, animal feed, and breaking into closed slaughterhouses for animal skin. Limited access to food and health facilities is expected to lead to many deaths.

Read at www.aljazeera.com