World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned of the risk of famine spreading in conflict-ridden Sudan. The head of WHO announced this on the social network of the American company X.
He noted that, according to the latest reports of the UN Integrated Phase Classification of Food Security (IPC), about 50 million people in Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo face acute food shortages and do not know how to feed their families.
According to Ghebreyesus, prolonged conflicts, massive population movements, economic instability and climate change has led to alarming levels of food insecurity.
“In some areas of Sudan (El Fasher and Kadugli) famine has already been confirmed. There is a risk that it will affect other parts of the country, as well as South Sudan. Famine means that we are already too late – people are starting to die from the consequences of malnutrition,” the WHO chief said.
Ghebreyesus called for a significant increase in food aid to Sudan and stressed that WHO, with the support of partners, is committed to providing medical assistance to all those in need.
“There is no time to waste, but without access to humanitarian aid, our options are limited,” he added.