PUBLIC STATEMENT: Call to Action Against Famine in Sudan Amidst Conflict

From the Sudan International Human Rights Organization (SIHRO)

Recap of the Ongoing Food Insecurity Crisis in Sudan Driven by the Ongoing Conflict:

• Sudan has been gripped by a devastating conflict since April 15, 2023, which has resulted in a deadly combination of displacement, direct effects of fighting, scarcity of agricultural inputs, and the destruction of food industry infrastructure.
• This conflict has pushed over 24 million Sudanese, roughly 60% of the total population, into poverty, with nearly 19.9 million citizens (49.75% of the total population) in dire need of food aid and 17.7 million facing acute food shortages.
• Famine has struck all parts of the country, with severe food shortages affecting 60% of the population in West Darfur state, 55% in the capital Khartoum, and significant percentages in other regions, surpassing the threshold for declaring famine, which is 20% of the population.
• The agricultural sector has been severely affected, with a 37% decrease in cultivated land this year and disruption of supply chains leading to a decrease of at least 70% in wheat cultivation.
• The looting of food stores, such as the World Food Fund, has exacerbated the crisis, leaving millions without access to essential supplies and resulting in increased deaths due to a lack of food.

SIHRO Joins Sudanese Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Their Call to Outline the Inevitable Food Insecurity Crisis, ‘Famine’:

• SIHRO stands alongside Sudanese CSOs, including the ‘Sudan Platform for Agriculture and Food Security’ and ‘Fikra (Idea) for Studies and Development,’ in their urgent calls to recognize the looming ‘famine’ crisis on the scale of the IPC.

Calling on the Federal and State Governments in Sudan to Act Regarding the Unfolding Humanitarian Crisis ‘Famine’:

• SIHRO implores the Federal and State governments in Sudan to take immediate action to address this unfolding humanitarian catastrophe, specifically by expediting the bureaucratic measures currently slowing down the delivery of vital humanitarian assistance to those in need.

Calling on the Sudanese Civil Society to Unite and Stand in Solidarity:

• SIHRO calls upon the Sudanese civil society to unite and demonstrate unwavering solidarity in the face of this nationwide humanitarian crisis. These challenging times necessitate unity, tolerance, and the rejection of differences for the greater good of the Sudanese people.

Calling for a ‘Food Security-based Sudanese Coalition’ Led by the Sudanese Civil Society:

• SIHRO advocates for establishing a ‘Food Security-based Sudanese Coalition’ under the leadership of Sudanese Civil Society. This coalition will play a pivotal role in advocating for food security and humanitarian aid in Sudan.

Calling on International Actors and the Global Community to Act on the Humanitarian Crisis:

• SIHRO implores the international community and actors not to disregard the dire needs of the Sudanese people and the unfolding crisis. They are urged to take greater responsibility and action by:
  • Providing increased funding to respond to the crisis, ensuring that essential aid reaches those in need.
  • Exerting pressure on the belligerent parties involved in the ongoing conflict to seek a peaceful resolution, prioritizing the humanitarian needs of the Sudanese population.

The time to act is now. The lives and well-being of millions of Sudanese people hang in the balance. SIHRO calls upon the United Nations and the international community to join hands in preventing further suffering and loss of life in Sudan.