UAE expresses ‘deepest concern’ over Sudan famine

International community urged to utilise ‘all tools’ to address situation

A displaced Sudanese child stands at Zamzam camp, in North Darfur. Reuters

The UAE has expressed its alarm at the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan, where food insecurity is affecting more than 25 million people.

More than a year of fighting between the Sudanese army and a rival paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces, has plunged the country into a food security crisis and created the world's largest internal displacement crisis.

About 755,000 people are facing the most acute level of hunger, known as Phase 5 under the globally accepted Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), including about 500,000 living in the North Darfur state where the army and RSF have been locked in a months-long battle around the main city of El Fasher.

International experts in the IPC Famine Review Committee say that starvation at the Zamzam camp in North Darfur, where up to 600,000 people shelter, has grown into full famine. A total of 25.6 million people in the country are experiencing high levels of acute hunger – IPC Phases 3 and above.

After a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, which highlighted the urgency of the situation, the UAE has called on the international community to maintain its focus on the North African nation.

“We express our deepest concern over the declared famine in parts of North Darfur, particularly in Zamzam camp, which shelters over half a million displaced people, the likelihood of famine in the Abu Shouk and Al Salam camps, and the nine additional Sudanese states where people are living in catastrophic hunger conditions,” read a statement posted via state news agency Wam.

It added that the situation “demands an emergency response that helps secure a ceasefire and facilitates the swift delivery of humanitarian aid”.

It called on the Sudanese Armed Forces to lift its restrictions on humanitarian access and the RSF to ensure that organisations and humanitarian workers were allowed to operate safely to reach people in need.

“The UAE unequivocally condemns the use of starvation as a weapon of war, the denial of humanitarian access for civilians in need, and the indiscriminate attacks that make it impossible for people to receive assistance – all these are clear violations of international humanitarian law.”

Looking ahead to ceasefire talks in Geneva, scheduled for August 14, the UAE called on warring parties to agree to an immediate permanent ceasefire and to prioritise “human life over military objectives”.

In June, the UAE allocated its contributions to humanitarian efforts in Sudan by channelling $70 million in aid for UN agencies.

This came in addition to $30 million to regional countries to support Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries.