How Climate Shocks Is Worsening Food Crisis In Sudan

Sudan is one of the countries suffering greatly from the adverse effects of climate change, political turmoil, and rising global food prices.

According to a new report by the United Nation, more than 30% of Sudan’s population are currently experiencing acute food insecurity.

Acute food insecurity is defined as a situation when a person’s inability to “consume adequate food puts their lives or livelihoods in immediate danger”.

The joint report by the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization said 15 million people face acute food insecurity across all of the East African country’s 18 provinces.

“The combined effects of conflict, climate shocks, economic and political crises, rising costs and poor harvests are pushing millions of people deeper into hunger and poverty,” said Eddie Rowe, WFP’s representative in Sudan.

Due to its arid and semi-arid regions, Sudan has experienced consecutive years of drought brought on by the harsh changes in climate for decades, coupled with poor farming methods.

The climate condition is said to be a major cause of prolonged conflict over limited natural resources including agriculture fields, rangelands, and water resources, forcing residents to engage in bouts of conflict to defend their homes and their lands.

Also, the military takeover that paused Sudan’s transition to democratic rule after three decades of repression and international isolation under President Omar al-Bashir has put Sudan on a very fragile path to democracy and its economy is not the better for it.

Living conditions have rapidly deteriorated across cash-strapped Sudan, sending the economy into free-fall, worsened by the Russia/Ukraine conflict.

Meanwhile, another statement by the Plan International, Save the Children, UNICEF and the World Vision warned that three million Sudanese children under the age of five would suffer from acute malnutrition, and about 375,000 could die this year if not properly treated.

Due to the risk of a dramatic rise in food insecurity that could adversely lead to higher rates of displacement and conflict, the WFP warned that Sudan is in dire need of immediate humanitarian assistance.

According to the report, funding levels by international bodies to the country fall short of meeting humanitarian needs in Sudan, where 40% of the population is expected to slip into food insecurity by September.

“We must act now to avoid increasing hunger levels and to save the lives of those already affected,” Rowe said.