More than 4 million Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries face hunger risk

SadaNews - The World Food Programme warned on Tuesday of the worsening hunger crisis among more than 4 million Sudanese refugees who have fled to neighboring countries since the outbreak of war in Sudan in April 2023, in search of safety, food, and shelter.

 

The programme clarified that these refugees are at risk of slipping into increased hunger and malnutrition, as basic food assistance is witnessing a significant decline due to ongoing funding crises.

It noted in its statement that most Sudanese refugee families arrive in neighboring countries in a state of shock and suffering from malnutrition, often having only the clothes they are wearing.

The programme is working to provide emergency assistance to refugees in seven host countries: Chad, the Central African Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, Uganda, and South Sudan, and has expanded its support to include host communities that have opened their doors to refugees despite facing poverty and food insecurity.

The programme warned that without securing new financial resources, the assistance it provides to refugees in some countries like Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic may stop in the coming months.

In Uganda, many Sudanese refugees are living on less than 500 calories a day, which is less than a quarter of their daily nutritional needs, while new waves of displaced persons are pushing refugee support systems to the brink of collapse.

In Chad, which hosts about a quarter of the total Sudanese refugees, the programme confirmed it would have to reduce food rations in the coming months unless it receives additional support.

Sean Hughes, the World Food Programme's emergency operations coordinator for the Sudan regional crisis, said: "We are facing a multi-faceted regional crisis, hitting countries that are already suffering from high levels of food insecurity and conflict."

He added that millions of fleeing Sudanese are almost entirely reliant on the support of the programme, warning that the absence of funding will force them to further reduce assistance, putting children in particular at increased risk of hunger and malnutrition.

According to the statement, acute malnutrition rates among refugee children in reception centers in Uganda and South Sudan have surpassed emergency thresholds, with many suffering health problems even before receiving any assistance.

The programme estimates its need for more than $200 million to ensure the continuation of the emergency response for Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries over the next six months, in addition to $575 million to carry out its lifesaving operations inside Sudan.