As famine spreads across several states in Sudan, particularly in the Darfur region, the humanitarian suffering of the population is worsening, and public kitchens have become a lifeline. However, many workers have been kidnapped, arrested, beaten, or killed.
More than 100 charity kitchen workers have been killed since the war began, according to the Aid Worker Security Database.
Dan Teng’o, Head of Communications for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said that it is not clear whether charity kitchen workers are being targeted because of their work or because they are perceived as being aligned with one side of the war over the other.
He adds: “The clear deterioration in the security climate has severely impacted local communities, including the volunteers who support the charity kitchens.”
He confirms that the closure of kitchens in conflict zones has left the most vulnerable families without viable alternatives, forcing people to buy from local shops where food prices have risen significantly.
