A devastating humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Sudan, with famine officially declared in several regions of the country as a result of a brutal conflict between the military and a paramilitary group. This catastrophe, fueled by imperialist machinations and the legacy of colonial exploitation, is pushing millions to the brink of starvation, while the world’s dominant powers stand idly by.

Related:
South Sudan’s Seasonal Flooding Turns into Annual Catastrophe, Displacing Thousands

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), famine conditions have been confirmed in five key areas, including the massive displacement camp of Zamzam in North Darfur, which has seen a devastating surge in malnutrition. These areas are at the epicenter of a 20-month war that has turned Sudan into a living nightmare, forcing over 14 million Sudanese – roughly 30% of the population – to flee their homes.

Over 3 million people have been forced to seek refuge across borders, highlighting the regional impact of the conflict.

The roots of this crisis are deeply embedded in the ongoing power struggles and the meddling of external powers seeking to control Sudan’s vast resources.

The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), is not merely a clash of domestic factions. It’s a result of the destabilizing legacy of colonialism and its continued neocolonial strategies, which continue to impede Sudan’s self-determination.

The war has been marked by unspeakable atrocities, including targeted killings, sexual violence and the systematic destruction of vital infrastructure. These horrific acts, currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court, reveal the barbarity of this imperialist-induced conflict and its devastating impact on civilian populations.

Aid organizations, meanwhile, are struggling to reach the most vulnerable, facing restricted access imposed by warring factions, particularly in the devastated North Darfur province. This calculated restriction of aid underscores a deliberate strategy of collective punishment, which disproportionately affects the most marginalized communities.

Dervla Cleary from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization confirms that nearly 640,000 people are suffering from famine conditions in the worst-affected areas. This, however, is just the tip of the iceberg, with at least 24.6 million Sudanese, half the country’s population, facing acute food insecurity.

The report highlights that famine-like conditions are now likely being experienced in areas in Khartoum and the province of Gezira, further showing the devastating and national scale of this crisis.

As famine spreads, Sudan joins South Sudan and Somalia as the latest African nations to be victimized by starvation caused by internal and external forces. The world cannot remain passive while the most vulnerable in Sudan are left to die.

The crisis in Sudan must be understood in the context of the wider global struggle against imperialism, and the exploitation of resources by Western powers. While the United Nations and the West talk endlessly, the people of Sudan face an existential threat. This is a consequence of unchecked capitalism, neocolonial practices and the prioritization of profits over the people.

The people of Sudan need our solidarity. Their struggle is our struggle. We must demand an end to the war, an end to the exploitation, and the immediate provision of aid to those most in need. The fate of Sudan rests not on the charity of the dominant powers, but on a concerted effort from the global community to dismantle the systems that foster these crises.

EN ESTA NOTA: