Over 1.2m in Lebanon expected to face acute hunger: UN-backed report

A UN-backed report indicates that over 1.2 million people in Lebanon are projected to face acute hunger between April and August due to the ongoing conflict with Israel. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), and Lebanon's Ministry of Agriculture stated that 1.24 million individuals are expected to experience food insecurity at crisis levels or worse. This represents a significant increase from the estimated 874,000 people facing acute food insecurity before the escalation of violence on March 2. The report attributes this deterioration to conflict, displacement, and economic pressures, which are making food increasingly unaffordable and undermining agricultural livelihoods. The situation highlights an urgent need for emergency agricultural assistance to support farmers and prevent further worsening of food security.

Families in Sudan are facing severe hunger and displacement due to ongoing conflict, particularly in Darfur and Kordofan regions. Marasi Alfadil's family fled el-Fasher in North Darfur after its takeover by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, where a UN investigation found the takeover bore "hallmarks of genocide." Prolonged sieges have led to critical shortages of food, fuel, and medicine, causing markets to collapse and creating a famine crisis. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification declared famine in November, with hundreds of thousands remaining in el-Fasher and other areas at risk. The conflict has severely limited humanitarian access, exacerbating the devastating effects on food security.

Nearly eight million people in South Sudan face acute hunger, with 7.8 million projected to experience high levels of food insecurity in the coming months, according to a United Nations report. This alarming situation, affecting 56% of the population, is exacerbated by ongoing conflict, displacement, and the spillover of fighting from neighboring Sudan. Aid agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization, World Food Programme, and UNICEF, warn of an "irreversible humanitarian catastrophe" if immediate international action is not taken. The number of children suffering from acute malnutrition has risen by 100,000 in six months to 2.2 million, with 700,000 at grave risk of death. Damaged nutritional services, supply shortages, inadequate funding, climate change, and the country's economic crisis are further worsening the humanitarian crisis.

As Sudan's conflict enters its fourth year, the UN's top official in the country, Denise Brown, has criticized the lack of political urgency to end the war between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army. Brown described the situation as "bloody unacceptable," highlighting that the world focuses on other crises. The conflict has displaced 14 million Sudanese, left 33 million in need of assistance, and is estimated to have killed at least 150,000. New reports reveal a worsening humanitarian crisis, including the closure of vital community kitchens, widespread food shortages with millions surviving on one meal a day, and the deliberate targeting of health infrastructure. A conference in Berlin is scheduled to address the crisis. The war has set Sudan's economy back more than 30 years.

As Sudan enters its fourth year of war on Wednesday, the conflict is being described as an "abandoned crisis" overshadowed by other global events. Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has caused widespread devastation, particularly in the Darfur region, leading to mass displacement and famine. At least 59,000 people have been killed, and millions are in need of humanitarian assistance. The UN reports that parts of Sudan are facing famine, with a projected 800,000 people suffering from severe acute malnutrition. International efforts to establish a ceasefire have been unsuccessful, and the crisis is further complicated by alleged external support for the warring parties.

As Sudan enters its fourth year of war between the military and the Rapid Support Forces, the conflict is being described as an "abandoned crisis" overshadowed by other global events. The fighting has created a humanitarian disaster, displacing 13 million people and causing widespread hunger, particularly in the Darfur region. The UN estimates at least 59,000 people have been killed, with a single RSF offensive in el-Fasher resulting in 6,000 deaths and bearing "the defining characteristics of genocide". International efforts to establish a ceasefire, including those by the US, have been unsuccessful, and regional powers are allegedly backing combatants. The UN humanitarian chief has criticized the world's failure to address the crisis.

An international conference in Berlin yielded over £1 billion in pledges for Sudan, surpassing the organizers' target to address the country's escalating humanitarian crisis. The funds aim to alleviate the severe shortfall in humanitarian aid needed to support the 34 million Sudanese requiring assistance due to the ongoing conflict. Despite the financial commitments, peace prospects remain uncertain as ceasefire talks have stalled and neither of Sudan's warring factions attended the conference. The Sudanese government criticized the event for lack of consultation, while protests occurred outside the venue. The US stated its focus is on achieving a humanitarian truce to facilitate aid delivery, though diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire have been unsuccessful.

The war in Sudan, which began in 2023, has resulted in a devastating human cost. According to a BBC report by Barbara Plett Usher, the scale of the impact is "simply staggering." The conflict has created a humanitarian crisis across the country, impacting the lives of millions. The report highlights the widespread suffering and displacement caused by the ongoing violence. The specific details of the human toll are not elaborated upon in this summary, but the report emphasizes the severity of the situation in Sudan.

A report by several NGOs reveals that millions in Sudan are surviving on only one meal a day due to the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023. The food crisis is most severe in North Darfur and South Kordofan, where people are resorting to eating leaves and animal feed. The conflict has disrupted Sudan's food system, leading to widespread hunger and displacement, with over 12 million people forced from their homes. The NGOs highlight that communal kitchens are struggling with dwindling resources, and the crisis is worsened by economic challenges and climate change. Over 33 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.

On the third anniversary of the war in Sudan, a major conference is being held in Berlin to address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis and funding shortfall. The UK's foreign secretary will urge Sudan's warring parties to end the bloodshed, as over 19 million people face acute hunger and some areas risk famine. International humanitarian funding for Sudan remains critically low, with only 16% of needed funds secured. The UK will announce a doubling of aid to £15m for Sudanese frontline responders. Despite stalled political momentum and failed talks between key nations, the conference aims to secure a ceasefire and diplomatic solution, allowing the Sudanese people to determine their future.

The article discusses the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which began on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has caused widespread destruction, displacement, and loss of life. The author emphasizes the need for an immediate ceasefire to ensure the safety and well-being of Sudanese citizens and access to basic services. Following a ceasefire, the article calls for a comprehensive political process involving all political actors and the Sudanese people to establish a new governance system. The article highlights the failure of the previous transition after the ousting of Omar al-Bashir due to fractured political fronts, a weakened civil society, and external interference, emphasizing the need for a unified vision to move forward.