One year into the war in Sudan, the conflict between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has led to a severe hunger crisis, with nearly 25 million people in need of aid and over eight million displaced. The warring sides are obstructing food delivery, exacerbating the situation, while a mobile network shutdown has cut off access to remittances. The looming lean season and reduced cereal production have raised concerns of famine, with experts warning of a humanitarian catastrophe and a potential death toll in the hundreds of thousands.
In Gaza, people are resorting to extreme measures to stave off hunger, including boiling weeds and eating animal feed, as the ongoing conflict has led to a severe food crisis. With limited access to aid and skyrocketing prices for basic food items, families are struggling to feed their children, leading to a sharp increase in malnutrition and starvation-related deaths, particularly among young children. The situation is exacerbated by the lack of fuel and electricity, making it difficult for families to cook and stay warm.
In Haiti, extreme gang violence and political instability have left hundreds of thousands displaced and struggling with hunger and malnutrition. Sarah Molin, a former computer science student, now lives in an abandoned cinema with her family, facing daily struggles to find food and feeling humiliated by scarce donations. Meanwhile, in Cap-Haitien, a residential malnutrition center run by a local NGO is providing critical care for malnourished children, but concerns remain about the slow international aid response and the potential pitfalls of short-term contracts for disaster relief.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are facing imminent famine, with more than two dozen children already dead from malnourishment. Efforts to distribute aid have been complicated by the ongoing conflict, with the UN looking to local groups for aid distribution, Israel playing a central role in the crisis, and Palestinian clans in Gaza rejecting cooperation with Israel. The dire need for more aid is evident, as Gaza's population relies entirely on humanitarian assistance allowed in by Israel, but restrictions and looting have hindered the distribution process.
The world's leading authority on hunger warns that famine is "imminent" in northern Gaza, with the entire population of the Gaza Strip facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Reports indicate children are dying from malnutrition and dehydration, and the situation is described as "entirely man-made." Israeli authorities have limited aid entering Gaza, leading to desperate measures by Palestinians to feed their families. The United Nations calls for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire, while aid agencies urge Israel to open more border crossings to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.
A report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative warns that famine is "imminent" in northern Gaza, with the entire population facing high levels of food insecurity due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The report projects that unless an immediate cease-fire occurs, northern Gaza may face famine between mid-March and the end of May, with 70% of the population experiencing "catastrophic" levels of hunger. Multiple United Nations organizations have warned of "catastrophic hunger" in Gaza, especially in the north, where people have resorted to eating bird feed to stave off starvation. Israeli restrictions on the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza, along with ongoing conflict, have severely limited access to essential supplies and aid, exacerbating the crisis.
In Sudan, ongoing conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces has disrupted food supply, leaving millions hungry and trapped in war zones. Residents face violence, harassment, and shortages of essential resources, with many forced to drink untreated water from the Nile. Humanitarian aid struggles to reach affected areas, leading to malnutrition and a dire humanitarian crisis, particularly in Darfur. The war has killed thousands, displaced millions, and triggered waves of ethnic killing, with little international aid getting through as the army and RSF clash over aid distribution.
The UN reports that a quarter of Gaza's population is on the brink of famine, with virtually the entire population in desperate need of food. Aid trucks have been shot at, looted, and overwhelmed by hungry people, and civil order is breaking down, particularly in the north. The situation is dire, with 1 in 6 children under two suffering from acute malnutrition. The breakdown in civil order is preventing safe aid distribution, and the collapse of agricultural production is expected to be complete by May. Israel claims to be facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid, but UN officials emphasize the need for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian workers to enter Gaza and prevent widespread famine.
Amnesty International reports that Israel has failed to comply with the International Court of Justice's order to ensure sufficient humanitarian aid reaches Gaza, despite the risk of genocide. The situation in Gaza has deteriorated rapidly, with acute malnutrition surging and severe shortages of food and water. Israel's blockade and restrictions on aid access have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, leading to an engineered famine. Amnesty International calls for an immediate and sustained ceasefire to save lives and urges states to press Israel to open up access to Gaza and end the blockade.
In the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, residents are resorting to desperate measures to feed their families, including slaughtering horses and scavenging for scraps and leaves. The ongoing conflict has exacerbated already dire living conditions, with food shortages, contaminated water, and power cuts. Aid agencies are struggling to reach the area, leaving over 2.2 million people on the brink of famine. The situation has led to alarming levels of malnutrition, particularly among young children, and has sparked protests against starvation and the blockade.
Sudan is facing acute hunger and potential famine as a result of the civil war between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army, with an estimated 18 million people in emergency levels of hunger. Aid agencies are calling for $4.1bn in funding to avert a catastrophe, as malnourishment and water-borne diseases are already affecting millions, particularly in Darfur. The conflict has severely affected food availability and people's ability to buy it, with the RSF and army exacerbating the crisis by looting aid and restricting access to regions in need. Grassroots committees are supporting soup kitchens across the country, but are struggling to receive support from the global community.
