Sudan Sees World's Largest Humanitarian Crisis

One of the worst famines in decades could be under way in Sudan, a country in the middle of a civil war, aid workers warn.

Starvation in war-stricken Sudan "is almost everywhere", the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.

Fresh diplomatic attempts to negotiate a cessation of hostilities have failed to make progress, the US Sudan Envoy Tom Perriello acknowledged this week.

For many months the army had prevented the shipment of aid via a crucial border post controlled by the RSF between Chad and Darfur. In August it agreed to allow them to resume, and the RSF promised to facilitate deliveries in the areas it holds.

Gen Gabir denied allegations that the army was still dragging its feet in approving the necessary paperwork for humanitarian groups, reeling off the number of visas and permits issued.

He emphasised that the RSF had looted humanitarian goods, and was still preventing aid from entering the besieged city of el-Fasher in North Darfur.

And he repeated army denials that there was famine in the country, again blaming the RSF for the hunger crisis.

In August, a group of UN-backed experts concluded there were famine conditions in the Zamzam camp for displaced people outside el-Fasher. It was able to make the determination because it had the data to do so, but said other parts of Sudan were also at risk.

But the Sudanese government has not made an official declaration of famine, which could trigger a UN Security Council resolution empowering agencies to deliver relief across borders.

Sudan has been home to a civil war since April 2023. The country is now facing a severe famine affecting millions of people. A cholera outbreak has worsened the situation, further straining a health system already on the brink of collapse, and recent floods have displaced thousands. 

Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the conflict and humanitarian crisis. With aid access severely restricted and relief efforts hampered, the crisis continues to deepen.