Photo credit: www.bbc.com

Aid Convoy Arrives in Khartoum Amid Severe Hunger Crisis

A convoy delivering essential food aid has reached Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, marking the first such delivery since civil unrest erupted in April 2023. This momentous occasion comes as the United Nations has declared the situation in Sudan as the “world’s worst hunger crisis,” driven by ongoing conflicts between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The arrival of the trucks, filled with much-needed supplies, was met with profound emotions. Humanitarian worker Duaa Tariq described the scene as a mixture of “tears of laughter and joy,” reflecting both the relief and exhaustion of those involved in the operation. She highlighted the significant efforts behind this breakthrough, which emerged from negotiations between UN agencies and local community groups with conflicting military factions.

The convoy, consisting of 28 trucks, included five provided by UNICEF, aimed at delivering vital food and health supplies to numerous facilities, including Al Bashayer Hospital in Khartoum. Tariq emphasized the desperate need for such aid, stating, “We’ve been waiting for it and we’ve been trying so many ways to go around this. The only way to help reduce the famine effect in Khartoum is to receive this aid.”

Recent warnings from an independent group of food security experts have highlighted the escalating crisis, suggesting that Sudan is descending into a “widening famine crisis.” Alarmingly, approximately 24.6 million individuals, or nearly half of the population, are in dire need of food assistance, as reported by the Integrated Food Phase Classification (IPC).

The backdrop of this humanitarian emergency is a lengthy power struggle that has plagued Sudan since the joint coup by the army and RSF in 2021. A fracture between their leaders has spiraled into widespread violence and instability for the past 20 months. As a grim illustration of the conflict’s toll, US special envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, indicated that estimates suggest the death toll could reach 150,000. Furthermore, more than 11 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes as a result of the ongoing turmoil.

Despite numerous attempts at mediation aimed at resolving the conflict, efforts to broker a ceasefire between the army and the RSF have largely been unsuccessful, leaving millions vulnerable and in need.

Source
www.bbc.com