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WFP Chief Warns of Imminent Famine in Sudan, Calls for Opening of Humanitarian Corridors
WFP Chief Warns of Imminent Famine in Sudan, Calls for Opening of Humanitarian Corridors
Cindy McCain, the Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, warned on Monday of an impending "catastrophic famine" in Sudan and called for all crossings to be opened for the entry of humanitarian aid.
This warning comes amid the ongoing bloody conflict that the country has been experiencing for more than a year and a half.
The clashes have been ongoing since April 2023 between the Sudanese army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the "Rapid Support Forces," led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Both sides have been accused of committing war crimes, including targeting civilians, obstructing aid access, and employing starvation tactics against millions.
McCain told Agence France-Presse, "We want full access to Sudan through as many entry points as possible, urgently." She confirmed that famine has already begun in the Zamzam camp, which requires a large-scale response.
Estimates from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees indicate that around 11.3 million people have been displaced due to the conflict, with approximately 3 million fleeing to other countries, while 26 million people are suffering from severe food insecurity. A famine has been declared in the "Zamzam" camp in Darfur.
McCain added, "We need to get food and trucks in; therefore, it is important to keep the crossings open, including those from the South Sudan border to the north."
Last week, ten countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Germany, called on the warring parties in Sudan to ensure humanitarian relief reaches the millions in urgent need of assistance.
These countries emphasized in a joint statement that "the systematic obstruction from both sides" is the cause of this famine.
McCain, who met with Burhan, expressed hope that the World Food Programme would be able to provide food widely in Sudan.
