Greg Stanton, the CEO of the World Food Programme (WFP), has warned that 20 million people in Sudan are facing acute hunger due to war and unrest. Of this number, five million are at emergency levels, and 200,000 are experiencing "catastrophic" food shortages. These figures reflect the scale of suffering that requires the world's full attention.
Declining Food Aid and Humanitarian Crisis
Stanton has announced that the agency may reduce its operations in the coming weeks due to decreased funding. In El Fasher, a city that once had a population of one million, only 20,000 of this population are receiving any food aid. In Tawila, Darfur, where nearly one million people have taken refuge, the World Food Programme provides food to about 950,000 people each month but is only able to meet half of the food rations.
Currently, the world is neglecting the humanitarian crisis in Sudan due to several other crises occurring. This neglect is not only morally wrong but will also have economic repercussions. Ignoring Sudan, a large and central country in the Red Sea and Horn of Africa, will affect not only its suffering people but also its neighbors and beyond.
Consequences of Insecurity and Migration
The widespread unrest caused by Sudan's three-year war has directed migration flows towards the Mediterranean Sea, the Gulf, and neighboring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. Severe instability along the Red Sea threatens maritime routes that are already under pressure. Additionally, harvest shortages due to inadequate rains, conflicts in agricultural areas, and rising fuel and fertilizer prices will not remain a localized food problem.
The famine crisis in Sudan is a test of whether financial fatigue and geopolitical rivalries will determine who eats and who does not. Since the war began in April 2023, the United Arab Emirates has provided $800 million in aid to Sudan and, along with the United States, has called for a comprehensive arms embargo at the United Nations Security Council. However, the goodwill of some countries cannot replace the collective response that this crisis requires.
The Necessity of Global Accountability
The world should not view the costs of maintaining life-saving operations in Sudan as an optional measure. Responding to the needs of the people of Sudan will be an investment in the stability of an entire region. However, as desirable as stability is, it should not mean rebuilding Sudan's warlords.
Three years of war have shown that allowing armed leadership to determine the political future of the country has its limitations. Both sides in this conflict have been accused of committing widespread atrocities, and there is evidence of the Sudanese army using chemical weapons. For this reason, the statements of Masad Bolous, senior advisor to the President of the United States, in Dubai on Tuesday are particularly significant. Bolous stated that neither General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan nor General Mohamed Dagalo have a future in Sudan's leadership, and Washington supports a swift transition to civilian leadership.
The essence is that the future of Sudan belongs to its people, not to armed groups. This should guide every diplomatic and humanitarian effort to end this devastating conflict.
