World Food Program: The risk of starvation still clouds Sudan in the midst of a lack of financing

Speaking from Port Sudan to reporters in Geneva on Tuesday, Laurent Bokira, the Qatari Food Program in Sudan, said: ” “During the past six months, the program has strengthened its aid, and we are now reaching nearly a million Sudanese in Khartoum with nutritional and nutritional support. This momentum must continue, there are many areas in the south at risk of starvation.”.

He added that the international mission to Khartoum found many neighborhoods deserted, severely affected, and is more like a “ghost city”, stressing that pressure on the depleted resources will increase.

The repercussions of lack of financing

The official in the World Food Program pointed out that despite the many generous contributions to the work of the program in Sudan, the program faces a deficit of $ 500 million to support the emergency food and cash assistance for the next six months.

Bokira said: “The international community must move now by increasing funding to stop starvation in the most affected areas, and investing in the recovery of Sudan. We must also demand respect for the safety and protection of the Sudanese people and relief workers.”.

He expressed great concern about the current situation, adding: “There is a need to take urgent measures to restore basic services and accelerate the pace of recovery through coordinated efforts with local authorities, national NGOs, United Nations agencies and partners in the humanitarian field.”.

He said that the World Food Program was forced to reduce the amount and scope of relief that it can distribute due to lack of financing.

Bokira said: “The lack of financing is already disrupted by some of the assistance we provide in the states of Khartoum, the Blue Nile, the island and Sennar. We had to withdraw our food, oil, and legumes from the food basket due to a lack of resources.”.

Efforts to reach 7 million people per month

The UN official said that in Khartoum, life -saving nutritional supplements for young, pregnant and lactating women have become already affordable due to a lack of resources.

Despite the many challenges, the program now reaches four million people per month throughout Sudan. This is about four times more than what it was in the beginning of 2024 with the expansion of access, including in areas that could not be previously accessed like Khartoum.

Local communities are supported in the long term through cash assistance to support local markets, bakeries and small companies planning to reopen their doors.

Bokira said: “We have quickly expanded our operations to meet the increasing needs. We aim to reach seven million people per month, while giving priority to those who face famine or other areas at risk.”.