Sudan's Capital Receives First Humanitarian Aid Amid Intensifying Hunger Crisis

As fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues, a significant humanitarian aid convoy has reached Khartoum, addressing the urgent food crisis affecting millions.

A convoy containing food aid has reached Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, for the first time since the outbreak of civil war in April 2023. This delivery arrives during what the United Nations describes as the "world's worst hunger crisis," exacerbated by ongoing clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Humanitarian worker Duaa Tariq expressed the emotional impact of the convoy's arrival, describing scenes filled with "tears of laughter and joy".

The situation in Sudan has been dire, with shortages due to ongoing violence creating significant barriers for aid agencies striving to deliver essential supplies. In light of the precarious security conditions and numerous roadblocks, the delivery was made possible after negotiations between UN agencies and local community groups with both the army and RSF.

The convoy, which consisted of 28 trucks, included vehicles from UNICEF supplying critical food and health resources to facilities like Al Bashayer Hospital in Khartoum. Tariq emphasized the desperate need for assistance, noting that many efforts had failed prior to this successful delivery. “We’ve been waiting for it,” she stated, highlighting the relentless struggle to combat the escalating famine crisis.

According to the Integrated Food Phase Classification (IPC), nearly half of Sudan's population, approximately 24.6 million people, urgently require food aid. The recent conflict has resulted in staggering casualties, with estimates suggesting that around 150,000 individuals may have been killed since tensions escalated. The humanitarian landscape remains bleak, with more than 11 million people displaced from their homes due to the violence.

Despite multiple mediation attempts aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict between the warring parties, meaningful progress remains elusive, further complicating the situation for those in need of aid.