The spokeswoman for the World Food Program (WFP), Leni Christine, accuses the Sudanese army and the rebels of not abiding by the ceasefire and warns that a significant part of the population of Sudan does not know when they will have food again.
“Nearly 19 million people, 40% of the population, do not know when they will have their next meal. We also see that the ceasefire is not being respected, which makes our work very difficult,” warns the WFP spokeswoman. , in statements to the TSF.
The ceasefire was negotiated with the mediation of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America, but clashes continue in Khartoum. The United Nations agency was forced to center operations along the coast in the city of Porto Sudan, almost 1,000 kilometers from the capital.
“In states like Gezira, where people fleeing the fighting in Khartoum continue to arrive, as well as Gadarife and Cassala states. We have also managed to restart our operations in three Darfur states and are doing everything we can to expand access when the security situation allows it”, describes Leni Christine.
But the goal is to reach the entire country: “For example, yesterday we managed to reach the city of Blue Nile, which is located in the south near the border with South Sudan. But in addition to worrying about our safety, they are above all concerned about having humanitarian access to be able to get to places where people have been badly affected by the fighting and desperately need our support.”
For Leni Christine, this will only be possible with security guarantees from both parties in conflict.
“That is why we continue to call for the ceasefire to be respected. Otherwise, it is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and makes it much more difficult to get aid to those who need it most,” says the WFP spokesperson.
And the conflict forced the agency to cross borders into South Sudan, Chad or Egypt.
“In Egypt, for example, we are providing ready meals and energy cookies. The emergency response for those who cross the borders, and there are already 150,000. We are also providing cash assistance in Egypt,” he explains.
Violence in Sudan has already displaced more than 850,000 people and nearly 300,000 refugees.
Source: TSF
