Sudan is facing a severe famine as peace talks fail again. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) allowed 15 UN aid trucks to enter from Chad to deliver food, but this gesture might be too little to make a real difference, according to BBC.
Sudan’s humanitarian crisis is the worst in the world right now. Over half of its 45 million people urgently need aid, and famine conditions have been reported in parts of Darfur. More than 12 million people are displaced, with some 2 million refugees in nearby countries. Experts warn that up to 2.5 million people could die from hunger by the end of this year.
The famine is partly caused by using starvation as a weapon in the ongoing conflict between the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Since the war began last year, areas like Darfur and the Gezira region have been heavily affected. The RSF has destroyed infrastructure, making food shortages even worse.
In some areas like Darfur, aid groups are reporting extreme malnutrition. The SAF’s strategy has been to block supplies to rebel-held areas, hoping to force the RSF into submission. However, this tactic has worsened the humanitarian crisis.
Sudan’s only port, controlled by the SAF, is crucial for importing food and aid. Despite the SAF’s partial concession to allow aid trucks through, it’s a small fraction of what’s needed. The aid process is slow and complicated by bureaucratic hurdles.
Peace talks in Geneva recently ended without significant progress. The SAF and RSF failed to agree on a ceasefire, and their international backers, like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are also at odds, complicating efforts to end the conflict.
Sudanese people hope for a quick resolution, but current signs suggest the crisis will continue for the foreseeable future.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c623levznxjo