Health reports from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and WHO

Sudan Faces Largest Humanitarian Catastrophe as Famine Spreads to Five Areas

Dec 24, 2024, 01:07 PM

Famine is spreading in war-torn Sudan, with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirming that famine has been detected in five areas as of December 2024 and projecting that five more areas will be affected by May 2025. The IPC reports that approximately 24.6 million Sudanese people require urgent food assistance, including 638,000 individuals who are already in a state of 'catastrophe'. The ongoing conflict between the military and a paramilitary group has exacerbated the crisis, leading to widespread displacement and severe shortages of food, with 90% of displaced families lacking access to food. Humanitarian organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), warn that the situation is deteriorating rapidly, with epidemics such as cholera emerging among displaced populations in South Sudan, where thousands of refugees arrive each day, creating a 'completely overwhelming' situation at the border. The head of the International Rescue Committee describes Sudan as the 'largest humanitarian catastrophe in history.' Authorities and aid organizations are calling for immediate action to address the escalating humanitarian crisis.