Sudan: Famine Strikes Darfur Displacement Camp, Global Alert Issued

Famine has been declared at the Zamzam camp for displaced persons in North Darfur, Sudan, according to a global food monitoring body. This crisis, the third such declaration by the body in 20 years, is expected to worsen and spread to other parts of the region.

The Famine Review Committee (FRC) reported that famine conditions have taken hold in Zamzam, a camp housing around 500,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). The situation is projected to persist until at least October.

Famine, as defined by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), has been confirmed at Zamzam due to critically high levels of acute malnutrition and mortality rates. The IPC, the UN’s primary body for assessing food crises, activated the FRC to review the situation after identifying the famine conditions.

This alarming situation has been exacerbated by ongoing conflict and restricted humanitarian access. The camp’s population has surged in recent weeks, absorbing nearly half of the 320,000 people displaced from El-Fasher since mid-April.

The FRC report emphasized that the famine could worsen if the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues, and if humanitarian aid remains limited. The experts also warned that other areas, such as the Abu Shouk and al-Salam camps, are likely experiencing similar conditions and are at high risk as long as the war persists.

Earlier this year, the Clingendael Institute, a Dutch think tank, warned that as many as 2.5 million people in Sudan could face starvation by September 2024, with Darfur and Kordofan regions being the most affected.

EAR Editor’s Note: This breaking news story is sourced from : https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/sudan/sudan-famine-prevention-plan-2024-through-accelerated-mitigative-actions-halt-deterioriation-food-insecurity-livelihood-impoverishment-and-malnutrition