Struggling Food Shortages in Sudanese Metropolis: Suggestions for Alleviation

Struggling Food Shortages in Sudanese Metropolis: Suggestions for Alleviation

In the heart of North Darfur, the city of El Fasher, its capital, has been under siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for over a year. The ongoing conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, with the UN regularly referring to the situation as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

Current efforts to end the siege and alleviate the crisis focus on urgent calls from international organisations, governments, and donor groups for a humanitarian pause and safe passage for civilians. These calls also demand unimpeded humanitarian access to El Fasher to address the acute hunger, starvation, and continuing violence faced by trapped civilians.

The United Nations, through its humanitarian coordinator and human rights chief, has strongly condemned attacks by the RSF on El Fasher and nearby displacement camps like Abu Shouk. The UN stresses that all parties must protect civilians and allow delivery of life-saving food, water, and medicine.

A joint statement by 30 international donors also demands that the RSF lift the siege on El Fasher and implement a humanitarian pause, allowing safe, voluntary civilian exits and unconditional humanitarian access. The statement urges the Sudanese Armed Forces to renew their agreement to such a pause and to ease bureaucratic barriers that currently hinder aid delivery.

The UK Foreign Secretary has condemned ongoing RSF assaults, urging all warring parties to comply with international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and facilitate aid access. The UK warns that continued violence constitutes crimes against humanity warranting accountability.

On the ground, fighting between the SAF and the RSF continues, complicating humanitarian efforts. Multiple attacks have damaged hospitals and displacement camps, resulting in numerous civilian casualties.

If the RSF wins in El Fasher, they would control almost all of western Sudan. However, many residents of El Fasher are resorting to eating hay or animal fodder due to food scarcity and high prices. The World Food Program has not been able to deliver food assistance to El Fasher by road for over a year due to blocked roads. Aid agencies estimate that around 12 million people of Sudan's 46-million-strong population have been displaced by the conflict, and around 150,000 people have died as a result.

The second thing aid agencies would like to see is "increased attention and engagement" with Sudan from the international community to help bring an end to the conflict and join calls for unfettered humanitarian access. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a weeklong ceasefire that would allow aid into El Fasher, but the RSF has yet to consent.

The story was amended on August 8, 2025, to correct geographical errors about El Fasher's location in the northwestern state of North Darfur. As the crisis deepens, what needs to happen in Sudan, according to aid agencies, is that the flow of aid needs to be larger than the flow of weapons. The meeting postponed in April, which would have brought together Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, is rumored to be rescheduled for September.

1. World news reports highlight the ongoing conflict in North Darfur's capital, El Fasher, between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
2. The prolonged siege of El Fasher by the RSF has caused a significant humanitarian crisis, making it the world's largest.
3. International organizations, governments, and donor groups have called for an immediate humanitarian pause and safe passage for civilians in El Fasher.
4. They also demand unimpeded humanitarian access to address the acute hunger, starvation, and ongoing violence faced by trapped civilians.
5. The UN severely condemns attacks by the RSF on El Fasher and nearby displacement camps like Abu Shouk.
6. The UN urges all parties to protect civilians and allow delivery of life-saving food, water, and medicine.
7. A joint statement by 30 international donors demands that the RSF lift the siege on El Fasher and implement a humanitarian pause.
8. The statement urges the Sudanese Armed Forces to renew their agreement to such a pause and to ease bureaucratic barriers that currently hinder aid delivery.
9. The UK Foreign Secretary has condemned ongoing RSF assaults, urging all warring parties to comply with international humanitarian law.
10. The UK calls on all parties to protect civilians and facilitate aid access, warning of crimes against humanity in case of continued violence.
11. Fighting between the SAF and the RSF continues on the ground, complicating humanitarian efforts.
12. Numerous attacks have damaged hospitals and displacement camps, resulting in civilian casualties.
13. If the RSF captures El Fasher, they would control almost all of western Sudan.
14. Residents of El Fasher are forced to eat hay or animal fodder due to food scarcity and high prices.
15. The World Food Program has not been able to deliver food assistance to El Fasher by road for over a year due to blocked roads.
16. Aid agencies estimate that around 12 million people of Sudan's 46-million-strong population have been displaced by the conflict.
17. Around 150,000 people are estimated to have died as a result of the conflict.
18. Aid agencies plea for increased attention and engagement from the international community to help end the conflict and allow unfettered humanitarian access.
19. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has called for a weeklong ceasefire that would allow aid into El Fasher, but the RSF has yet to consent.
20. The original story was amended on August 8, 2025, to correct geographical errors about El Fasher's location in the northwestern state of North Darfur.
21. As the crisis deepens, what is needed in Sudan, according to aid agencies, is a larger flow of aid compared to the flow of weapons.
22. A meeting rumored to be rescheduled for September would bring together Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt.
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