The West Darfur State Emergency Response Rooms Coordination Council warned on Sunday of the risk of worsening hunger and malnutrition in the state following the failure of the agricultural season due to climate change.
West Darfur, along with several other states that rely on rain-fed agriculture, has been affected by below-average rainfall during the current agricultural season. This has negatively impacted crop growth and agricultural production, raising concerns about deteriorating food security and living conditions among the population.
In a report on the consequences of the failed agricultural season, the West Darfur State Emergency Response Rooms Coordination Council said that “unpredictable climate change has affected agricultural crops across all localities in the state, leading to a worrying decline in production, particularly millet, sorghum, and sesame, which are the main crops on which residents depend for food security and income.”
The report explained that declining agricultural production is exacerbating the humanitarian and economic challenges the state has faced since the outbreak of the war in Sudan on 15 April 2023. This is occurring amid deteriorating security and living conditions, as well as the arrival of large numbers of internally displaced people and the return of refugees, placing additional pressure on food resources, essential services, and already limited sources of income.
The council noted that the losses from the agricultural season extend beyond food shortages to declining household incomes and purchasing power. They could also reduce the availability of staple crops in local markets and drive up prices, making it increasingly difficult for low-income families to obtain the food they need.
