The main food agency of the United Nations has caution that families in the besieged city of el-Fasher in Sudan are facing the threat of starvation. The World Food Programme (WFP) stated that they have been unable to deliver food to the city in the western region of Darfur for more than a year, via road.
El-Fasher has been encircled by paramilitary forces from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for nearly 16 months. These fighters are determined to seize the city from Sudan’s army. Local activists have already begun documenting deaths caused by starvation in the city, which is inhabited by approximately 250,000 people.
The civil war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has led to what the UN describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The WFP highlighted that severe food shortages have significantly increased the prices for scarce supplies in el-Fasher. Some reports indicate that people are resorting to eating animal fodder and food waste in order to survive. Although the agency did not mention the responsible party, the RSF has disrupted trade routes and blocked supply lines to the only city in Darfur under the control of the army.
Eric Perdison, WFP’s regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa, stated that the people in el-Fasher face a daily struggle to survive. He emphasized that the coping mechanisms of individuals have been exhausted by over two years of war, and without immediate and sustained access, lives will be lost.
The agency quoted Sondos, an eight-year-old girl who fled el-Fasher with her family. She described the city as experiencing frequent shelling and hunger, adding that the family had been relying only on millet for survival.
The WFP has trucks loaded with food and nutrition assistance ready to be transported if they receive guarantees of safe passage. However, a previous attempt to send a convoy in early June resulted in an attack, with both the army and the RSF blaming each other. Since then, the UN has been advocating for a week-long humanitarian truce in el-Fasher.
It remains uncertain how well either side would respond to another attempt at sending an aid convoy to break the siege.
The civil war in Sudan has also resulted in claims of genocide in Darfur. More than 150,000 people have lost their lives due to the conflict since 2023, and approximately 12 million individuals have been displaced from their homes.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2qgledd7go?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
