UN: Over Half Of Sudan’s Population Facing Acute Hunger Amid Ongoing Conflict

By Debora Akur Chol, South Sudan

The United Nations has reported that more than half of Sudan’s 24.6 million population is suffering from acute hunger, as nearly two years of unrelenting conflict continue to ravage the country.

In a press release on Wednesday, Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), shared the grim statistics.

The conflict has caused widespread devastation, with parts of Sudan now resembling a hellscape.

Wosornu revealed that over 12 million people have been displaced by the violence, including 3.4 million who have sought refuge across Sudan’s borders.

In addition, millions of children are missing out on education, while the country continues to grapple with the harrowing impact of sexual violence.

The situation in North Darfur has reached alarming levels, with Wosornu highlighting the worsening conditions in areas such as the Zamzam displacement camp, Khartoum, and southern Sudan.

Eight months after the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2736, civilians in North Darfur remain under constant threat.

“The violence surrounding the Zamzam displacement camp, which is home to hundreds of thousands of civilians and where famine conditions have been confirmed, has escalated further,” Wosornu said, adding: “This is deeply concerning, as the situation continues to deteriorate.”

On Monday, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the main provider of health and nutrition services in Zamzam, announced the suspension of its operations in the camp due to worsening security conditions.

The World Food Program (WFP) has also ceased its voucher-based food assistance in the area, citing the destruction of the market and continued insecurity.

Wosornu expressed deep concern for the safety of local responders and community volunteers, particularly in Khartoum and other regions where the situation is increasingly volatile.

Despite these challenges, Wosornu commended the Sudanese authorities for their decision to extend the use of the Adre crossing for humanitarian movements.

She also acknowledged the continued efforts by humanitarian partners to increase support through crossline routes, which offer some hope for those in desperate need.

In 2024, around 15.6 million people across Sudan received some form of humanitarian assistance, though the need remains critical.

Wosornu called on the UN Security Council and all member states with influence to take immediate action, ensuring that all parties involved in the conflict comply with international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and safeguard essential infrastructure and services that the population depends on.