- Extreme food shortages in Darfur as markets looted and civilians attacked
- Local communities in Al Jazirah share their limited food and shelter with fleeing families
Millions of people across Sudan are facing critical food shortages as weeks of brutally violent conflict has destroyed markets and factories, disrupted trade and imports, and blocked humanitarian aid. Food prices have tripled in some areas and banks are struggling to function, leaving many people unable to access cash to buy essentials.
More than 913,000 people have now fled their homes – including more than 736,000 within Sudan and 177,000 to neighbouring countries. More continue to flee every day as warring parties continue to ignore their own ceasefire announcements, with Islamic Relief teams reporting more heavy bombardments across Khartoum in the past 24 hours. Families have been separated in the chaos as people face an impossible choice, with staying and fleeing both potentially deadly.
Eltahir Imam, an Islamic Relief Programme Manager, has been part of a team assessing needs in Al Jazirah state, where around 50,000 people have fled to escape the fighting in Khartoum. He says:
“People are arriving with virtually nothing, just whatever they could grab when they fled. They’re terrified by what they’ve seen. Many of them are now being sheltered and fed by local families, who have taken them into their own homes. Local people don’t have much money or food themselves, but they are helping their fellow Sudanese with whatever they can. In one school we found Ethiopians, Eritreans and Ugandans sleeping on the floors of classrooms and the local community is also providing them with food and water. It’s heartening to see such generosity and hospitality at this time of so many atrocities.
“But this situation can’t go on and food supplies will soon run out unless more aid can be delivered soon. The local community can’t afford to keep feeding them for a long time, and food prices in the market are rising every day.”
Reem* fled Khartoum with her sister’s family and arrived in Al Jazirah State a few days ago. They now rely on local people providing them with bits of bread and corn. She says:
“(The fighting in Khartoum) was very terrible. The children were suffering and feeling scared… when they heard the sound of the helicopter flying and releasing ammunition they would run and continue running until the sound was gone. My niece was trembling with fear and vomiting. The streets were not safe and full of fear – they (armed groups) would stop you on the street. Thank God, we arrived in (Al Jazirah).”
Islamic Relief is planning to provide food and other vital aid to thousands of people in Al Jazirah as well as parts of Khartoum State and North Kordofan. However, there are still huge challenges bringing aid supplies into the country and many aid operations in Darfur and Khartoum city are still suspended due to the extreme insecurity, including Islamic Relief projects that were tackling child malnutrition in Central Darfur.
In Zalingei, the capital of central Darfur, Islamic Relief staff say food is becoming extremely scarce as the market was looted and very little food has been able to reach the town since. Almost a quarter of a million people have been displaced in Darfur as armed groups have killed and attacked civilians and looted aid offices and trucks.
Even before the current conflict broke out almost 16 million people across Sudan were in need of aid and many struggled to get enough food. The impact of the fighting and lack of humanitarian access in many areas means that this number is likely to rise and many of the most vulnerable people are now expected to fall into emergency levels of hunger in the coming months.
Islamic Relief is calling on the parties to the conflict to cease hostilities, protect civilians and allow unimpeded humanitarian access across the country. As access opens up in some regions, Islamic Relief is calling on international governments to step up funding for the humanitarian response and ensure that it can be used flexibly and adapt to the changing situation.
Notes
As well as at least 736,000 people internally displaced within Sudan so far, the number of refugees flowing into neighbouring countries has reached over 177,000 – including over 67,000 arriving in Egypt, over 41,000 in Chad, over 43,000 to South Sudan and over 9,000 to the Central African Republic.
*Names have been changed to protect identities
Islamic Relief has worked in Sudan since 1984, providing emergency aid and long-term development. We help communities get food and water, support health centres, and work to improve education, sustainable livelihoods and women’s rights. We have projects across the country, in Khartoum, Blue Nile, North and South Kordofan, Central and West Darfur, Kassala and Gedaref.
