Millions in war-ravaged Sudan surviving on one meal a day, say NGOs

Many people resorting to eating leaves and animal feed to survive in North Darfur and South Kordofan states.Millions of people in Sudan are surviving on just one meal a day, as the country’s food crisis deepens and threatens to spread, according to a report published by a group of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs).“Sudan’s war between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which enters its third year on Wednesday, has caused widespread hunger and displaced millions of people amid one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises,” a report by Action Against Hunger, CARE International, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, and the Norwegian Refugee Council said on Monday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Humanitarian situation in Sudan at ‘catastrophic levels’, says NGOlist 2 of 4Sudan war ‘being fought on women’s bodies’: Survivors detail sexual assaultlist 3 of 4WHO says attack on Sudan hospital killed 64, including 13 childrenlist 4 of 4Displaced families in Sudan struggle as aid falls shortend of list“Nearly three years of conflict, marked by violence, displacement and siege tactics, have systematically eroded Sudan’s food system – field by field, road by road, market by market – producing mass hunger,” it added.The report highlighted that millions of families can only access one meal a day in the two states worst hit by the conflict – North Darfur and South Kordofan.“Often, they miss meals for entire days,” the report said, adding that many people have resorted to eating leaves and animal feed to survive.The NGOs said communal kitchens set up to collectively prepare and share meals are struggling to stretch the scarce food available as resources dwindle.It added that the crisis is being compounded by a worsening economic crisis and climate change.Government denies famineIn April 2023, a war erupted between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), unleashing a wave of violence that has led to one of the world’s worst man-made humanitarian crises, with more than 12 million forced from their homes, and more than 33 million people in need of humanitarian aid.