Sudan “rejects” UN-affiliated report declaring famine in the country
The Sudanese government rejected a United Nations-backed report on December 29th which reveals that famine has reached five areas within the country.
Known as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) review, the report was published on December 24th. The report, which is used by UN agencies, stated that the war between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the country’s army has led to circumstances of famine for 638,000 people, with 8.1m people on the verge of widespread starvation, according to Arab News via AFP.
The foreign ministry said in a statement that the government “categorically rejects the IPC’s description of the situation in Sudan as a famine.”
The statement also referred to the report as “essentially speculative” and claimed that the IPC has fallen short in its procedural process and transparency.
The ministry also said that the team did not have access to up to the field data and had not been in talks with the government’s technical team regarding the latest version before the report was published.
Agriculture Minister Abubakar Omar El-Bushra said that the figures in the report “are unrealistic,” Anadolu Ajansi reports.
El-Bushra said that 11 of the 15 states examined in the report are in conflict areas and seven of them are undergoing a siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, which means that field surveys could not have taken place.
El-Bushra said that Sudan will withdraw its association with the IPC.
El-Bushra added: “The Sudanese government rejects the exploitation of food security issues and the imposition of famine as a reality in war-torn countries.”
“The IPC did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment,” according to Arab News via AFP.
The Sudanese government has been situated in the city of Port Sudan since Khartoum became conflict torn in April 2023.
The government has more than once faced accusations of hindering global efforts to examine the food security in Sudan.
The authorities have also faced accusations of creating bureaucratic obstacles for humanitarian efforts.
The International Rescue Committee said the army was “leveraging its status as the internationally recognized government (and blocking) the UN and other agencies from reaching RSF-controlled areas.”
In army-controlled areas of Sudan, over 24.6m people, which is around 50% of the population, are experiencing a lot of food insecurity.
On December 29th, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, stressed that famine is threatening millions in Sudan due to the ongoing conflict between the army and the RSF.
The US recently promised $200m of aid for Sudan. Asharq Al-Awsat and agencies report that the announcement was made on December 19th by Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.
Arab News via AFP, Anadolu Ajansi, Asharq Al-Awsat.
