Wednesday, 7 August 2024
The Australian Council for International Development and Sudanese diaspora organisations urgently call on the Australian Government to respond to the recent declaration of famine in Darfur, Sudan, by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
Whilst we welcomed previous announcements of funding in relation to this crisis, this declaration of famine demands immediate attention and resourcing to scale up the work of humanitarian organisations providing lifesaving assistance on the ground.
Where famine is declared, starvation, death, destitution and extremely critical levels of acute malnutrition are or will likely be evident.
The IPC has found that famine conditions are occurring in the Zamzam Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, which hosts approximately 500,000 IDPs outside of El Fasher town in Darfur. The declaration marks a catastrophic escalation in the ongoing humanitarian crisis that has already displaced millions and left countless others struggling to survive.
Australian NGOs are on the ground and are ready to scale-up their critical relief operations with further resourcing.
Quotes attributable to Naomi Brooks, ACFID Humanitarian Advisor:
“The United Nations has confirmed that the situation in Darfur has reached famine levels, with widespread food shortages, severe malnutrition, and an unprecedented humanitarian emergency.
“The Australian Government should urgently consider further funding for Sudan, in light of the declaration of famine in parts of Darfur.”
“ACFID continues to reiterate that the parties to the conflict must ensure that all humanitarian staff, facilities and supplies are protected from attacks. Humanitarian actors must be able to carry out their work, unimpeded.”
"If conflict persists and humanitarian access remains blocked, famine conditions will only deteriorate and extend further."
Quotes attributable to Amad Mohamed, Sudanese Australian Advocacy Network (SAAN):
“SAAN is deeply concerned about the worsening crisis and hunger in Darfur. The region is suffering from violence, displacement, and severe shortages of food, clean water, and medical care. Hundreds of thousands of families are struggling to survive.
“The silence and inaction of the international community are heartbreaking, especially as famine threatens to devastate the region.
“The people of Darfur cannot endure another genocide in a generation. Without immediate action, countless lives will be lost to hunger and suffering.
“We urgently call on the international community, humanitarian organisations, and all stakeholders to step up and protect civilians, deliver essential aid, and prevent a catastrophic famine. The Australian government and global partners must act now to help Darfur.
Quotes attributable to Ayoub Zaid, President of Darfur Advocacy Australia:
“Darfur is experiencing an indescribable humanitarian crisis, with people urgently needing attention as they face war, displacement, and famine.
The dire conditions within the dispersed displacement camps exacerbate the suffering of the displaced, particularly vulnerable groups such as women and children, who face severe shortages of essential supplies like food, water, and healthcare.
This alarming situation is a precursor to an unprecedented catastrophe, with famine threatening to decimate a significant portion of Darfur's population.
Immediate intervention from the international community, including Australia, is crucial to provide the necessary aid and prevent an impending humanitarian disaster.”
ACFID is committed to supporting emergency humanitarian efforts and advocating for long-term solutions to the crisis in Darfur.
Australian humanitarian NGOs responding to the crisis in Sudan can be found at the ACFID appeals page here.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Will Devine at 0401 721 064 or at media@acfid.asn.au
Background
Sudan has been in the grips of a violent civil conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023, with the UN continuing to voice concern at the escalating humanitarian situation. In that time, there have been reports of conflict-related sexual violence, indiscriminate attacks against civilians, forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, arms trafficking and more.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), at least 12,000 people have been killed and 33,000 others injured. This death toll is likely to be much higher, with a report from the United NaOCHA also noting that over 11 million people have been displaced, making Sudan the largest internal displacement crisis globally.
The aid & humanitarian sector is working to offer assistance and protection to affected people and communities and continues to call on all parties to cease hostilities, to uphold international law and protect civilians, including health and humanitarian aid workers.