At the epicentre of a humanitarian emergency nearly a year into the conflict

Sudan is experiencing one of the cruelest and, at the same time, least visible humanitarian crises today. Ten months of conflict have just passed in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a conflict that comes after years of protracted crisis.

The conflict, moreover, is taking place in the heart of the capital, with a devastating effect on the country as a whole. The violence has triggered the largest crisis of displaced people in the world, with nearly 11 million having progressively fled their homes since the beginning of the conflict in April 2023.

Displacement causes food insecurity by limiting access to vital resources. Around 18 million people, one in three, are acutely food insecure due to conflict, violence and economic decline in the country. According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) projections from October 2023 to February 2024, 10 per cent of the population is in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), on the brink of famine, while 27 per cent is in Crisis (IPC Phase 3). If it persists, this part of the Sudanese population could also end up in the Emergency phase.

The trend of acute malnutrition in children under five has been increasing since the beginning of the conflict: 14 million are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance in Sudan, 3 million of whom are displaced.

Armed conflict and violence have led to hunger and malnutrition in Sudan. Loss of access to or destruction of land, the collapse of economic activity due to insecurity and the high cost of inputs, the blocking of transport systems or the destruction of water supplies are contributing to worsening food insecurity in the country.

THE CONFLICT IN SUDAN IS ALSO A GENDER CONFLICT

In November 2023, UN experts expressed alarm at the escalation of sexual violence committed in the conflict. There have been reports of women and girls being raped and abducted, some of them forcibly married and held for ransom. Several sources have reported seeing women and girls chained in vans inside cars in inhumane conditions.

At Action Against Hunger we consider a protection and gender response in conflict contexts to be crucial, especially in the case of Sudan, where reports are extremely worrying.

The Action Against Hunger country team is assisting victims of gender-based violence through a hotline and offering accompaniment. We are setting up women’s centres and community protection networks with a short- and long-term vision. We conduct awareness-raising sessions and have set up school clubs to raise awareness of gender-based violence. We also train local health workers and community leaders in gender equality, a key step towards fostering inclusive and equitable communities.

AN UNDER-FUNDED AND UNDER-ACCESSED HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

The intensification of hostilities is hampering the delivery of humanitarian aid, due to insecurity and movement restrictions. Fuel shortages and rising prices add to the problems, impacting on transport costs. The international community faces significant obstacles to responding effectively, requiring coordinated efforts to address the challenges and provide life-saving assistance to Sudan’s vulnerable populations.

Action Against Hunger is also calling on the international community to anticipate these needs and quickly mobilise the necessary resources to save lives and protect affected communities. According to the United Nations (OCHA, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) the funding needed to respond with humanitarian aid in Sudan is $2.7 billion, of which $94.5 million has been received. This equates to an advance of 4% of the total funding required. Similarly, only 3.5% of the total funding required by the Sudan Needs Response Plan 2024 has been met.

Although the funds received in 2023 were not sufficient to respond to the needs, the humanitarian community did its best to address urgent priorities, providing humanitarian assistance to 7 million people. Among them, Action Against Hunger reached nearly 500 000 people between April and December 2023 with our humanitarian response in health, nutrition, livelihoods, water, sanitation, hygiene, gender and protection.

Our teams continue to work despite persistent conflict-related challenges. Today we are present in 11 locations in White Nile, Blue Nile, South Kordofan and Central Darfur states, all in food insecurity crisis, IPC 3.

Action Against Hunger urges both parties to the conflict to ensure that humanitarian organisations like ours have free and unfettered access to assess the needs of communities, replenish supplies and deliver aid quickly and effectively.

THE CONFLICT IN SUDAN IS ALSO A GENDER CONFLICT

In November 2023, UN experts expressed alarm at the escalation of sexual violence committed in the conflict. There have been reports of women and girls being raped and abducted, some of them forcibly married and held for ransom. Several sources have reported seeing women and girls chained in vans inside cars in inhumane conditions.

At Action Against Hunger we consider a protection and gender response in conflict contexts to be crucial, especially in the case of Sudan, where reports are extremely worrying.

The Action Against Hunger country team is assisting victims of gender-based violence through a hotline and offering accompaniment. We are setting up women’s centres and community protection networks with a short- and long-term vision. We conduct awareness-raising sessions and have set up school clubs to raise awareness of gender-based violence. We also train local health workers and community leaders in gender equality, a key step towards fostering inclusive and equitable communities.