Report: Khartoum in Sudan urgently needs help due to severe food shortages

Nearly all households in Sudans capital, Khartoum, are experiencing severe food shortages, while the citys healthcare system has largely broken down, according to a recent humanitarian assessment. The findings highlight the alarming scale of the crisis in the conflict-stricken nation.

The study, conducted by Medical Teams International and Norwegian Church Aid, discovered that around 75% of families in Khartoum consume fewer than 1,800 calories daily. Researchers surveyed over 1,250 households and 70 health facilities between August and September, reporting that 97% of homes lack sufficient food.

Dirk Hanekom, country director for Norwegian Church Aid in Sudan, stressed that humanitarian assistance is urgently needed in Khartoum. He warned that if conditions in the capital are this dire, rural areas affected by ongoing fighting are likely experiencing even worse hardships.

Since April 2023, Khartoum has been ravaged by clashes between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The assessment revealed that only 43% of health facilities remain operational, and merely 14% of women have access to safe childbirth services. Most clinics report shortages of essential medicines, with 70% lacking antibiotics.

Birhanu Waka, Medical Teams Internationals country director, emphasized that these findings should guide efforts to restore health services amid unimaginable hardship. Although the military regained control of Khartoum in March, and the airport reopened for domestic flights in October, RSF forces still hold significant parts of western Sudan, including Darfur.

In Babnusa, West Kordofan, intense clashes have recently occurred, with the RSF claiming control. Reports indicate over 100 families, including pregnant women and children, have been detained in unsafe conditions, with some subjected to physical abuse. The United Nations has issued warnings that the region may face renewed mass atrocities, citing patterns similar to the recent fall of el-Fasher.

Estimates suggest at least 60,000 people were killed in el-Fasher within three weeks, with as many as 150,000 residents unaccounted for. Satellite images show the city largely deserted. The overall death toll from Sudans conflict is unclear but is believed to exceed 100,000, with nearly 12 million displaced. More than 24 million Sudanese are currently facing acute hunger.

Peace negotiations have stalled despite unilateral ceasefire announcements by the RSF. Attacks continue across the country, with the military demanding the paramilitary forces withdraw from captured areas.

Author: Harper Simmons