Sudan: Belligerents Accused of Deliberate Starvation of Civilians
Inhumane war tactics
The Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are accused of using “tactics to starve” 25 million civilians, according to a statement released Thursday by UN experts. The experts, although independent, are mandated by the Human Rights Council. They say Sudan is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with millions facing devastating hunger due to the fighting.
An unprecedented food crisis
97% of the displaced or remaining population suffers from hunger
Experts highlight the alarming scale of the crisis, estimating that “97% of displaced people and civilians who remain at home” are facing extreme levels of hunger. Since the conflict began in April 2023, clashes between the army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF of his former deputy, General Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, have created a catastrophic situation. Famine was already declared in July in the Zamzam camp in Darfur, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) criteria.
Disastrous humanitarian consequences
Millions displaced and tens of thousands dead
The conflict in Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 10 million, according to the UN. Refugee camps, such as Zamzam, are home to about 500,000 people trying to flee the fighting. They face some of the “worst” living conditions, experts say, further exacerbating a crisis already considered one of the world’s worst.
Conclusion: An orchestrated famine and a large-scale humanitarian crisis
The tactics used by the warring parties to starve Sudanese civilians are plunging the country into an unprecedented humanitarian tragedy. Given the scale of the crisis, calls are growing for international action to prevent large-scale famine and alleviate the suffering of the millions affected by this destructive conflict.
