Sudan’s civil war worsens, children starve amidst rising humanitarian crisis across Africa

As the conflict deepens, the report warns that intensified violence could trigger mass displacement and drive a surge in cross-border migrations into neighbouring countries, including Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic, as reported by The Guardian.

Aurélien Mellin, an emergency and rehabilitation officer at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), stressed the urgency for coordinated international action. “Without immediate humanitarian efforts and concerted international action to address severe access constraints and advocate for the de-escalation of conflict and insecurity, further starvation and loss of life are likely in Palestine, Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali,” Mellin said.

The FAO analysis classified multiple countries as hotspots of “very high concern” for acute food insecurity, including Chad, Nigeria, Mozambique, Lebanon, Myanmar, Syria, and Yemen. New additions to the list, such as Namibia and Lesotho, have seen worsening hunger due to adverse weather and drops in agricultural output. Countries like Kenya, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi, Somalia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe also face significant food insecurity.

The report anticipates that a La Niña climate event, expected between November 2024 and March 2025, will likely worsen conditions, potentially increasing flood risks in countries such as Nigeria, Malawi, and Mozambique while droughts could affect Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.

Mellin warned that “La Niña-induced climate extremes can have severe consequences on food security,” further exacerbating hunger and suffering across crisis-affected regions.

Kevin Mugenya, programme director at Mercy Corps Ethiopia, highlighted the worrying trend. “We’re seeing hunger deepen due to a complex mix of conflict, economic challenges, and climate change – creating the worst hunger crisis in a generation, particularly in countries like Sudan, Nigeria, and Mali,” he said.

Mugenya added that ongoing instability has disrupted food supply chains and hindered planting seasons, significantly reducing the land available for cultivation.

The report calls for “immediate” and “scaled-up” assistance to protect livelihoods and increase access to food in these hunger hotspots, as communities and nations across Africa grapple with unprecedented levels of need.

(With inputs from The Guardian)