El Fasher: One year after famine was first confirmed in Sudan's Zamzam camp in North Darfur, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a warning that families trapped in the state capital, El Fasher, are facing the threat of starvation. The city remains isolated from humanitarian aid, forcing the population to survive on dwindling supplies.
According to EMM, WFP has been unable to deliver food assistance to El Fasher by road for over a year due to blocked routes. Despite providing digital cash support to 250,000 residents to purchase available food in local markets, the aid is insufficient to meet the extensive needs of the city's besieged population.
Eric Perdison, WFP's Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, stated that everyone in El Fasher struggles daily for survival, with coping mechanisms depleted after more than two years of conflict. He emphasized the urgency of gaining immediate and sustained access to prevent loss of life.
Efforts by WFP have mitigated famine risks in several areas of Central and West Darfur. However, with the rainy season commencing, road access to Darfur is expected to be further restricted, jeopardizing recent progress if aid is interrupted.
Corinne Fleischer, WFP's Director of Supply Chain and Delivery, highlighted the ongoing challenges of blocked access to critical locations like El Fasher. She stressed the necessity of unimpeded access to reach all civilians in need.
As of August, WFP received clearances from Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commission in Port Sudan for a convoy to El Fasher. However, the Rapid Support Forces, who have besieged the North Darfur capital for over a year, have not yet agreed to pause fighting to allow humanitarian aid into the city.
Fleischer confirmed WFP's readiness to send food assistance into El Fasher, emphasizing the urgent need for assurances of safe passage. A joint WFP and UNICEF convoy was attacked in June, resulting in casualties and the destruction of aid supplies.
To continue its emergency food, cash, and nutrition assistance, WFP requires $645 million over the next six months. Already, pipeline breaks are causing difficult trade-offs, leaving some families in eastern Sudan's displacement camps without support after two years of reliance.