Carl Skau, Acting Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), has warned of a worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan.
He said that “the country is facing one of the world’s largest hunger and displacement crises,” at a time when access to affected populations is becoming increasingly difficult and resources needed to fund relief operations are declining.
Speaking during a press briefing, Skau said that “around 20 million people are facing acute hunger, while the number of people displaced by the conflict has reached approximately 14 million.” He noted that around 200,000 people are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity amounting to famine conditions.
He added that “the World Food Programme reaches between 4 and 5 million people every month, but is facing a severe funding shortfall,” warning that it may be forced to significantly reduce assistance in Sudan in the coming weeks.
Skau explained that “the organization currently has only one-third of the funding it needed compared with last year.”
The UN official also highlighted the challenges facing humanitarian operations, noting that “one of the programme’s convoys came under attack about two weeks ago while traveling to Dilling in Kordofan, central Sudan.” He added that front lines and damaged roads are obstructing the delivery of aid to large areas of the country.
