Although food security has begun to improve in areas where fighting has subsided, famine has taken hold in conflict-hit locations that have been cut off from aid or under siege, according to the latest UN-backed IPC food security analysis. 

Famine conditions have been confirmed in Darfur’s El Fasher and Kadugli, where “people have endured months without reliable access to food or medical care,” the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and child rights agency UNICEF said in a joint release.

Ceasefire call

UN chief António Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan on Tuesday as disturbing images of apparent mass killings in El Fasher and elsewhere continue to circulate online.

In a tweet, Mr. Guterres appealed to the Sudanese Armed Forces and the rebel paramilitary Rapid Support Forces “to come to the negotiating table to bring an end to this nightmare of violence”.

Heavy fighting erupted in Sudan in April 2023 between the rival armies which has created a massive humanitarian disaster.

Last week saw the fall of government held El Fasher after more than 500 days of siege by rebels.

Hundreds of civilians – including humanitarian workers – are believed to have been killed, and many others are trapped behind barricades.

Millions still going hungry

The IPC analysis confirmed that roughly 21.2 million people in Sudan – 45 per cent of the population – are facing high levels of acute food insecurity, representing a slight improvement.

Furthermore, an estimated 3.4 million people are no longer facing crisis levels of hunger.

The improvements follow a gradual stabilisation since May in three states – Khartoum, Al Jazirah and Sennar – where conflict has eased and families are returning, among other developments.

“But these gains are limited,” the UN agencies said.  “The wider crisis has shattered the economy and vital services, and much of the infrastructure people rely on has been damaged or destroyed.”

‘Fragile improvements’

Favourable crop growing conditions are also expected after the harvest and into next year, with crisis levels of hunger improving to 19.3 million through January.

They warned, however, that “these fragile improvements are highly localised” as many returning families in Khartoum and Al Jazirah have lost everything and will struggle to benefit from the harvest.  

At the same time, active conflict persists in western regions, notably North and South Darfur as well as West and South Kordofan.

Meanwhile, hunger is expected to worsen starting in February as food stocks run out and fighting continues. 

Famine in besieged areas

The IPC’s Famine Review Committee (FRC) found that famine conditions are occurring in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur state, and Kadugli in South Kordofan, which have been largely cut off due to conflict. 

The UN agencies noted that conditions in Dilling, South Kordofan, “are likely similar to Kadugli, but cannot be classified due to insufficient reliable data – a result of restricted humanitarian access and ongoing hostilities.”

In the Western Nuba Mountains, conditions have shown marginal improvement, but famine remains high unless humanitarian access improves.

The FRC projects a risk of famine in 20 additional areas across Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan, including rural localities, displacement camps and several new locations in East Darfur and South Kordofan.

Additionally, Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates are alarmingly high, ranging from 38 to 75 per cent in El Fasher and reaching nearly 30 per cent in Kadugli.

This is happening as outbreaks of cholera, malaria and measles continue to rise in areas where health, water and sanitation systems have collapsed. 

António Guterres was speaking at a press conference during the Second World Summit for Social Development in the Qatari capital.

He was asked about coordination with Israel and US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza which includes deploying a temporary international stabilization force to the enclave, developed by the US, Arab and international partners.

Aid scale-up critical

The Secretary-General said the UN is “actively engaged in making sure that humanitarian aid increases dramatically” in Gaza and reaches the entire population.

He added that the US “has been helpful in making Israel at least progressively remove some of the obstacles and difficulties that are still in place” in this regard.

“On the other hand, we have been very actively supporting the principle that the ceasefire must hold, that all parties must abide by the ceasefire, that there must be a link between Gaza and the West Bank in the way the next stage is put in place,” he continued.

“And that this needs to lead to a two-State solution and to the recognition of an independent Palestinian State.”

The Secretary-General stressed that the UN’s positions “have been very clear” and are not dependent “on cooperating with this or that country.”

US draft resolution

He noted that the US is drafting a Security Council resolution on Gaza in consultation with other serving members, however the UN Secretariat is not involved in the discussions.

“What we believe is that whatever entity that is created in Gaza should have the legitimacy of a mandate from the Security Council,” he said.

Asked if this includes the international force, he responded that “it is one of the things that has been discussed” and “it would be important to have the training and the formation of a Palestinian police force.”

He said: “This transition needs to lead to a situation in which the two sides [Gaza and the West Bank] are united and that the Palestinian Authority exerts its full authority.” 

Humanitarian efforts continue

Meanwhile, humanitarians continue to scale up operations across the Gaza Strip, in line with the 60-day response plan, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told journalists in New York. 

He said the UN and partners picked up 80 truckloads of supplies on Sunday, including food, animal fodder, shelter materials, winter clothing and hygiene items.  This total does not include bilateral and commercial deliveries. 

“Our partners report that, based on preliminary data, they collected nearly 750 pallets of relief items yesterday from Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem and transported them to Gaza City,” he said.

“Another four trucks delivered medicine and medical supplies. Congestion and heavy traffic continue to hamper collection efforts.”

Nearly one million fed

Since the resumption of general food distributions on 13 October, nearly one million people – half the population –have received assistance through 46 distribution points run by aid partners. 

“We continue to try to expand this so that this month, families can receive two monthly food parcels, up from one in October,” he said.  

Between mid-October and this past Sunday, the UN and partners collected more than 210 metric tonnes of animal fodder from the crossings, and distribution to some 1,700 herders in Deir al-Balah is almost complete.  

Partners providing nutrition services have also collected more than 120,000 packs of fortified cereal, used to prevent acute malnutrition in children. This amount is enough to support large numbers of children for one month.

Mr. Haq reported that other partners providing water and sanitation services continue to scale up their responses. 

Humanitarians have also supported local authorities with rehabilitating three wells supplying neighbourhoods in Gaza City.  

More than 130 roads were blocked, power and communication networks disrupted, while health services remain under heavy strain, according to the UN aid coordination office (OCHA). 

“Up to 360,000 people may require food assistance”, underscored the World Food Programme (WFP). Access to some western parishes continue to be difficult due to debris and fuel shortages, OCHA said.

WFP has been “working around the clock”, developing joint plans and strategies with the Government, said Brian Bogart, Country Director for WFP Multi-Country Caribbean Office, briefing journalists in New York via video link.

Jamaican resilience

“The Jamaican people are resilient”, he said, “but they need urgent support to maintain that resilience. 

Mr. Bogart reiterated that urgent needs remain food, water, shelter, and medicine for communities which have been hardest hit.

In the past two days, both a French and a Dutch navy vessel loaded with relief items have made landfall in Kingston’s harbour. 

In the days ahead, WFP is planning to assist up to 200,000 people across the country with food assistance and cash transfers, which is critical as the country moves from an immediate humanitarian response to a longer-term recovery strategy. 

Cuba and Haiti

Food distribution in Cuba has already reached 180,000 in protection centres across the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantanamo, reported WFP Country Director there, Etienne Labande. 

Highlighting the UN food agencies’ deep understanding of the local context and their ability to coordinate with authorities and communities, M. Labande emphasised that having WFP on the ground was “critical” for ensuring a fast and effective response.

Meanwhile, in Haiti, at least 30 people died during the extreme weather generated by Melissa, according to the authorities. 

“An estimated 1.25 million people have been affected by the hurricane”, said the Cuba country director. 

To make matters worse, relief efforts and the delivery of ongoing aid are further complicated by the continuing humanitarian crisis and security vacuum created by armed groups who control the vast majority of the capital, Port au Prince.

“Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint”, underscored M Labande. 

Despite severe funding shortages, access challenges and logistical constraints, the UN and partners are continuing to assess damage and ramping up efforts to reach people in need.

$74 million is urgently needed to deliver life-saving assistance to up to 1.1 million people across the Caribbean in the wake of Melissa, and coordinate emergency logistics and telecommunications.