Humanitarian tragedy turns into mass starvation in Sudan

Michael Denutra (Darfur) – According to Human Rights organizations and the UN, Sudan is facing severe starvation due to the civil war that erupted in 2022. Amid extensive humanitarian and economic deterioration, the Sudanese army continues to rely on a military resolution, driven by a fragile political alliance with remnants of the former regime, notably the Muslim Brotherhood, while explicitly refusing dialogue with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Despite the widespread devastation caused by this conflict, the country’s military leadership, headed by General Al-Burhan, shows no willingness to engage in peace negotiations with RSF.

A Humanitarian Disaster on a National Scale According to statements from Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, 24.6 million Sudanese—more than half the population—face acute food insecurity, with 638,000 people experiencing actual famine, as per the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report released at the end of 2024.

Dujarric emphasized in a UN press briefing: “The international community needs to intensify its support to avoid further loss of life. The situation will worsen during the lean season from June to September unless safe delivery of humanitarian aid is facilitated.”

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that basic food prices, particularly corn and millet, staples for millions of Sudanese, have quadrupled, while humanitarian funding remains well below necessary levels.

Closed Doors to Negotiation: An Unchanging Stance Despite the deteriorating humanitarian situation, Sudan’s military leadership continues to adopt a hardline stance against political dialogue. Following the recapture of the presidential palace, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared: “No negotiations with the RSF; the rifle will decide.”

The U.S. State Department had issued sanction on Al Burhan last year. Al Burhan has repeatedly obstructed international mediation efforts, including rejecting participation in ceasefire negotiations in Switzerland in August 2024 and declining an invitation from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for a summit in Uganda earlier this year. In contrast, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti), the RSF leader, accepted the invitation.

The Military-Brotherhood Alliance: A Barrier to Transition Observers believe that Burhan’s obstinacy stems not merely from his military perspective but also from an ideological alliance with Islamist factions, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood, who control critical decision-making positions within military and security institutions.

A report by Sudan Peace Tracker indicated that the Brotherhood “instigated the October 25, 2021 coup against the civilian government, mobilized tribal leaders to blockade ports, and supported the current war to regain control of the state without regard for the people’s fate.” The report further described the ongoing conflict as an attempt by “a bloodthirsty Islamist organization to regain absolute power,” utilizing state military tools to suppress any civil initiative.

Humanitarian Aid Blocked: Hunger as a Weapon With political paths blocked, the Sudanese military has imposed restrictions on humanitarian aid. In July 2024, The New York Times reported that government forces blocked significant food shipments through the Adré border crossing with Chad, a critical humanitarian corridor for the Darfur region.

The report highlighted that “this blockade directly impacts 2.5 million Sudanese, in a region approximately the size of Spain, which previously experienced genocide in the early 2000s.” International aid agencies have warned that eight areas in Darfur face imminent famine unless military-imposed restrictions are lifted.

Economic Collapse… Citizens Bear the Brunt The war has not only destroyed infrastructure and institutions but also reversed Sudan’s economic progress by decades. According to economic research centers, 75% of the industrial sector, 65% of agriculture, and 70% of the service sector have been rendered non-operational.

Sudanese economist Adel Khalafallah stated: “More than 80% of workers have lost their jobs, unemployment has risen to 75%, over 90% of the population lives below the extreme poverty line, inflation has surpassed 145%, and the Sudanese pound has lost 350% of its purchasing power.”

An analysis in the African Economic Review indicated that continued war would disrupt supply chains, trigger brain drain, and permanently collapse production sectors.

A War Without End… A Tragedy Without Witnesses While Sudan teeters on the brink of historic famine and complete economic collapse, the military leadership insists on continuing an unwinnable war, consuming lives and resources, and shutting the future’s doors for millions. The continuation of this conflict is no longer about security or influence; it has become an existential stance for a political-military-religious alliance fearing any democratic transition that might hold it accountable. With no resolution in sight, the Sudanese tragedy stands as a stark testament to the world’s failure to protect people from wars driven by power, bloodshed, and starvation.