Sudan is grappling with an intensifying hunger crisis as US foreign aid suspensions and the ongoing civil war further disrupt vital relief efforts. The pause in USAID funding has already led to the closure of most of Sudan’s community kitchens, essential neighborhood-based relief groups that help feed millions across the country.
These community kitchens were instrumental in feeding those affected by the conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). However, following the US government’s decision to halt foreign aid, around 80% of the 1,460 community kitchens in Sudan were forced to shut down, severely limiting food access.
Hajooj Kuka, a spokesperson for the Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) in Khartoum, which operate these kitchens, explained that while efforts are underway to reopen some kitchens through donations, over 60% remain closed. He emphasized that without adequate funding, it is impossible to meet the growing demand for food, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
The hunger crisis is compounded by both warring factions obstructing aid. The SAF’s bureaucracy and RSF’s looting of food supplies, including markets and aid deliveries, are significantly hindering efforts to get food to those most in need. The situation has led to widespread famine, with over 600,000 people already facing starvation and another 8 million at risk.
Despite the humanitarian crisis, organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) are finding it increasingly difficult to operate. Aid workers were forced to evacuate from North Darfur after shelling by the RSF, halting food distribution to over 60,000 displaced people. The dire circumstances call for international intervention, with ERRs now reaching out to the EU and UN agencies to fill the gap left by USAID.
As the violence escalates, Sudan’s civilians remain trapped in a dire battle for survival, struggling to find enough food and shelter, while the threat of famine continues to grow.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/3/5/sudanese-starve-as-soup-kitchens-close-down-and-warring-parties-block-aid