Food Security Analysis: January 2023 – February 2024

Executive Summary

The Sudan International Human Rights Organization (SIHRO) presents a harrowing analysis based on the World Food Programme’s Market Monitor report for February 2024, depicting a significant worsening of food insecurity in Sudan. The findings underscore an acute crisis precipitated by skyrocketing prices of fundamental food commodities, a pronounced depreciation of the Sudanese pound, and rampant inflation. This confluence of factors amplifies the plight of millions, thrusting them into a state of heightened vulnerability to food insecurity and malnutrition amidst a backdrop of economic instability and conflict. The need for immediate humanitarian intervention cannot be overstated.

Price Surges and Economic Deterioration

The report identifies alarming price surges across essential food items such as sorghum, wheat flour, goats, and groundnuts, with the cost of the local food basket inflating by up to 112.66% year-over-year. These trends are symptomatic of a broader economic downturn, further aggravated by conflict and diminished agricultural productivity, fostering significant inflationary pressures on the Sudanese economy. The devaluation of the Sudanese pound in parallel markets exacerbates these challenges, highlighting the severe economic ramifications on food affordability and access.

Labor and Livelihoods Under Threat

The national average daily wage for casual labor—by 5.8% from January 2024—has declined significantly, contrasting sharply with the rising cost of living. This decline significantly undermines the purchasing power of Sudanese families, propelling them into deeper food insecurity and threatening their basic livelihoods.

Alarming Food Security Outlook

SIHRO emphasizes the dire implications of these economic challenges and reduced agricultural yields for Sudan’s food security outlook. The organization expresses particular concern for the increased malnutrition and hunger risks among vulnerable groups, including children, women, and older people. Conflict and climatic variability further endanger the fragile agricultural sector, risking further reductions in food supply availability.

Conclusion and Call to Action

This analysis, anchored in the February 2024 WFP Market Monitor report, lays bare Sudan’s escalating food security crisis. It serves as a clarion call to the international community, humanitarian agencies, and stakeholders, urging a unified response to address this crisis’s immediate and underlying causes. The Sudan International Human Rights Organization (SIHRO) implores a concerted effort to resolve the conflict, stabilize the economy, and bolster sustainable agricultural practices. Moreover, there is an urgent need to ramp up humanitarian assistance to meet the immediate food requirements of the most vulnerable populations, thereby upholding the human rights and dignity of the Sudanese populace.

Acknowledging the critical efforts of the World Food Programme in monitoring these trends, SIHRO is committed to advocating for the rights and welfare of Sudan’s population amidst these challenging times. The situation calls for immediate, coordinated action to mitigate the food security crisis and safeguard the fundamental human rights of the Sudanese people.