GENEVA, Feb 28 (KUNA) -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) issued a grave warning on Friday stating that the disruption in food distribution and emergency aid could lead to the death of thousands of families from hunger in the (Zamzam camp) in Sudan in the coming weeks.
WFP stressed that two million people in 27 locations across Sudan are currently experiencing or on the brink of famine and children are already dying of hunger.
Speaking online from Nairobi during a press briefing in Geneva, spokesperson for the WFP in Sudan Leni Kinzli explained that the WFP was forced to suspend operations in Zamzam Camp in North Darfur due to recent violence that destroyed the camp's central market.
"This escalation left the WFP with no choice but to evacuate its staff for safety" Kinzli stressed, noting that the situation in the camp had already reached critical levels months ago with famine officially declared in August.
She further emphasized the urgency of resuming aid deliveries safely and swiftly halting the ongoing fighting and providing security guarantees for humanitarian organizations to ensure access to those in need.
She stated that the food distribution pause comes after the WFP and its partners were able to provide food vouchers to 60,000 people in February before heavy shelling forced the suspension of aid operations.
Kinzli elaborated that despite facing continuous barriers due to violence and insecurity the WFP is striving to find alternative methods to provide support.
This includes launching an online self-registration system for cash-based assistance in North Darfur.
Although communication networks are weak this system has received significant response from local communities with people soon expected to receive critical assistance through a mobile money app.
Kinzli reported two out of every three individuals in famine-prone areas received in 2024 assistance from the WFP.
However, she stressed that this aid was far from sufficient and that regular consistent deliveries to these vulnerable communities are essential to combating famine. (end) amk.hm