Read < 1 minute

A United Nations official warned on Wednesday that Sudan’s food security situation demands urgent action due to ongoing conflict, heavy rains, and flooding.

Abdul Hakim Elwaer, assistant director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said in a statement that he visited Port Sudan on Tuesday to assess the situation. He said that about half of Sudan’s population is affected by the conflict, which has hampered humanitarian aid efforts.

He said the FAO is working to distribute seeds for the upcoming winter season to support vegetable and wheat production amid challenges in reaching affected farmers.

The FAO has developed a 104-million-U.S.-dollar emergency response plan for Sudan for 2024, focusing on seed distribution for both the annual and summer growing seasons.

The United Nations has previously warned of a potential famine in certain areas of Sudan. A recent report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs highlighted the crisis’s severity. However, the Sudanese government has disputed these claims, denying a significant food gap.

Since April 15, 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a violent conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has resulted in at least 16,650 deaths and displaced millions of people.