The World Food Program warns that some Sudanese migrants may run out of food within two months
A World Food Programme official warned of escalating levels of hunger and warned that without an urgent infusion of additional cash, food aid for Sudanese refugees in four neighboring countries could run out in the coming months.
Due to ongoing financial problems, more than 4 million refugees have fled Sudan’s more than two-year civil war to seven neighboring countries, where shelter conditions are generally considered subpar.
At a press event in Geneva, WFP emergency coordinator for the Sudan regional crisis Shaun Hughes said, “Unless new funding is secured, all refugees will face assistance cuts in the coming months.” Hughes called for $200 million spread over six months.
He further clarified that this might occur within two months. “In the case of four countries – that is the Central African Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Libya – WFP’s operations are now so severely underfunded, that all support could cease in the coming months as resources run dry,” he stated.
Many of the refugees are fled Sudan’s hotspots for hunger. According to a joint U.N. study released last month, the nation was in imminent danger of starvation.
Hughes said that child refugees would be more vulnerable to starvation if rations were cut or eliminated.
When asked why the money had decreased, he pointed to a decline in donations from all sources as well as an increase in humanitarian needs.
He went on to say that the United States continued to be Sudan’s largest donor despite drastically cutting back on foreign aid under President Donald Trump.
