2-8 November Sudan News Summary: Hunger and displacement lead to calls for more assistance

15 Nov

Arabic news roundup

By William Greenwood

A local official said on Thursday that hundreds of people are arriving daily in Tawila, North Darfur State, despite the worsening humanitarian crisis.
Tawila, located approximately 60 kilometres west of El Fasher, has become a refuge for 655,000 displaced people, most of whom fled El Fasher.
Adam Rijal, the official spokesperson for the General Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees in Darfur, said that the displacement from El Fasher to Tawila continues, with 250 to 300 people arriving in the area daily.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in a report published on October 29, stated that 98% of families in Tawila lack sleeping equipment such as blankets, mattresses, and mosquito nets, while the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) confirmed that families are forced to sleep in the open, increasing the risk of violence, exploitation, and abuse against women and girls.
The IOM also reported that 86% of displaced people in Tawila suffer from malnutrition, and 30% of children are under five years old, many of whom are thin or not growing well, according to the report.
Adam Rijal said that the closure of the Adré border crossing by Chadian authorities has caused food shortages, with displaced people suffering from severe lack of food and resources, while food prices have risen sharply, with a kilogram of sugar reaching 5,000 Sudanese pounds in Darfur cities.

Sudan: 10 million children displaced, 70% malnourished

The UNICEF representative in Sudan, Sheldon Pitt, stated that 10 million children have been displaced and are in dire need of comprehensive aid packages containing food, vaccinations, and all essential supplies.
He pointed out that the children are suffering from severe shortages of food and healthcare amidst limited resources and immense humanitarian needs, emphasising that they do not have sufficient vaccinations and lack access to schools.
The United Nations confirms that 5 million Sudanese children are homeless due to the war, and Doctors Without Borders reported that more than 70% of children displaced from El Fasher to Tawila are malnourished.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, the UNICEF representative highlighted the difficulties his organisation faces, as it cannot access conflict-affected areas in the Darfur region. However, he said that the situation is easier in northern Sudan, where they are cooperating with the government to deliver food, water, and hygiene supplies.
He explained that bureaucracy is one of the biggest obstacles to delivering aid, stressing that UNICEF needs more financial support from its partners.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Sudanese Minister of Health Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim called for an end to the war in Sudan and the opening of humanitarian and health corridors in various regions, particularly in El Fasher, Darfur, and Kordofan.
He stated that the number of displaced people in the first two years of the war exceeded 10 million, with 70% to 80% of them being accommodated in the eastern, northern, and central states.
He revealed that 40,000 families, mostly women and children, are currently residing in the largest camps in North Kordofan State, having been displaced from West Kordofan, El Fasher, and Bara.
The Sudanese minister confirmed that there are more than 130,000 displaced families in Kordofan State, and that the number of displaced people in El Obeid, North Kordofan, has more than doubled.
He added that more than 15 UN organizations and agencies are assisting the Ministry of Health and the Humanitarian Aid Commission with health and water services, but needs are increasing, especially regarding environmental remediation services for the camps housing displaced people.

By Samuel Hunt

More than 21 million people in Sudan, 45 per cent of the population, are not getting enough to eat as the war between rival militaries continues, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that that famine has been confirmed in El Fasher and in Kadugli, capital of South Kordofan state, both of which are largely cut off from aid: “however, in nine other locations where WFP has maintained consistent access, famine-like conditions have been reversed thanks to sustained assistance,” he said.
Mr. Dujarric urged the international community “to continue stepping up, with the support and funding needed to help people in Sudan who so desperately need help.”
Separately, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, issued an urgent appeal on Thursday for Sudanese civilians who “are now running out of time” as communities are cut off from aid: “children are hungry, parents are desperate…They need protection, safety and humanitarian access,” UNHCR said.

Bill Greenwood