Dozens of countries, led by the United States and several major European powers, have issued a joint declaration warning of a alarming decline in food security across Sudan. The coalition has called on both sides of the ongoing conflict to “remove all obstacles” preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the affected population.
In a statement published by the U.S. Department of State, the participating nations emphasized that the risk of famine in the coming months requires immediate action. The declaration cites warnings from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global hunger monitoring body supported by the United Nations, which indicates that 5.1 million people in Sudan are currently facing acute hunger. The signatories urged the international community to increase financial support and instructed financial institutions to adapt their existing programs to align with the worsening food security situation.
The joint statement places primary responsibility for alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people on the warring parties. It calls for the unrestricted movement of humanitarian operations across all crossing points along front lines and international borders, specifically highlighting the need for air access to the Darfur region. Furthermore, the coalition demanded that combatants ensure the safety and continued presence of humanitarian workers throughout Sudan and refrain from attacking civilian infrastructure.
The signatories include the United States, Australia, Britain, France, and Germany, alongside the EU Commissioner for Equality and Crisis Preparedness. This diplomatic pressure comes amidst a brutal civil war that began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The conflict, sparked by disagreements over integrating the two forces into a unified structure during a planned transition to civilian rule, has displaced more than 14 million people and triggered waves of ethnic violence.
Last month, the U.S. State Department stated that neither the Sudanese Armed Forces nor the Rapid Support Forces, nor any of their leaders, represent a legitimate or constitutional government for Sudan. A UN investigation concluded in July that Rapid Support Forces carried out mass killings, rape, and forced starvation in a besieged city last year as part of a deliberate policy reaching the level of genocide. Washington has also accused the Rapid Support Forces of committing genocide and the army of war crimes, allegations both sides have previously denied.
