The United Nations’ International Organisation for Migration (IOM) warned that famine and floods will add to the ongoing challenges in Sudan on Monday.

Sudan already faces displacement and significant loss of life after more than a year of civil war. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) have reported famine conditions near Al Fashir in northern Darfur, where half a million displaced people are experiencing food shortage. Many have died or are suffering from malnutrition. Thousands have also been affected by the heavy seasonal rains and flooding since June across 11 states in Sudan, resulting in more displacement, injuries, death and starvation. Sudan is expected to experience more rainfall.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM)’s Regional Director for the  Middle East and North Africa, Othman Belbeisi, stated, “Make no mistake, these conditions will persist and worsen if the conflict and restrictions on humanitarian access continue.”

Humanitarian conditions in Sudan are some of the worst in the world and urgent funding is necessary for “food, shelter, water, health services, and specialised protection,” according to the IOM. Sudan is currently experiencing one of the largest and most extreme hunger crises worldwide. 10 million people have been displaced, making it one of the most severe displacement crises in the world. It has been estimated that 2.5 million people will die of hunger by September 2024.

Since April 15, 2023, Sudan has experienced a civil war between two military forces, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), in Sudan’s capital Khartoum and Darfur. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are said to have terrorised Darfur, perpetrating ethnic cleansing, massacres and genocide against the Masalit ethnic group.  

There have been allegations that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, including sexual violence in Khartoum, such as rape, gang rape, forced marriages of women and girls, trafficking and sexual slavery. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that 65 percent of the country is without proper medical care. Thousands of children have been killed by the conflict, 700,000 suffer from malnutrition, 5 million have been displaced and 19 million children risk not receiving an education.