Khartoum, Sept. 15 (SANA) Sudan is facing “the world’s largest hunger and displacement crisis,” with 20 million people suffering acute hunger and 14 million displaced, World Food Programme (WFP) Acting Executive Director Carl Skau warned after an eight-day visit to the country.
Skau visited Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan, where he said he witnessed the impact of conflict, hunger, displacement, drought and severe funding shortages on communities.
According to food security assessments, around 5 million people are experiencing emergency levels of hunger, while about 200,000 people are facing famine-level conditions.
In El Fasher, Skau described widespread destruction after 18 months of siege, saying homes had been damaged, vehicles burned and economic activity had largely collapsed. The WFP is providing life-saving food assistance to around 20,000 people in the city.
He also highlighted the situation in Tawila, which has received around 250,000 newly displaced people, bringing its population close to one million. While shelter and food assistance have improved, families are receiving only half rations, enough for about two weeks.
Skau said drought is adding to the humanitarian challenges, particularly in Darfur, where he described conditions as the worst since 1984, warning of its impact on agriculture and livestock.
Despite the challenges, the WFP continues to provide assistance to four to five million people each month, including up to 2.5 million people in hard-to-reach areas.
However, Skau warned that severe funding shortages could force the agency to significantly reduce its operations within weeks. He called on donors to provide additional resources and urged greater political efforts to end the conflict.
“We cannot continue to let these people down,” Skau said, stressing the need to provide civilians with basic necessities while pursuing a political solution.
FJ/RK
