3.1.4. Food security

For country-wide background information, see section 1.1.5. of the EUAA Sudan report – Country Focus (April 2024). Increasing hunger due to food depravation has been reported throughout the country.562 Additionally, agricultural companies, particularly near conflict zones, have faced severe disruptions.563 According to a human rights analyst with in-depth expertise on the country, who was interviewed by EUAA, in some areas the RSF cuts the electricity, so people pay a fee to have it re-installed. Farmers also pay protection fees, which in some places can go up to $400 USD per month to allow farmers to farm.564

Barriers to access local markets have also been reported, mainly due to the security situation.565 For example, according to IFPRI and UNDP, about 25 % of households in Khartoum are unable to visit markets, followed by Al Jazirah (21.6 %), Red Sea (18.3 %), Kassala (17.1 %), and North Darfur (16.7 %).566 Barriers that led to markets not being successful included the lack of buyers and sellers, high prices, and logistical hurdles.567
 

Map 4. Sudan Acute Food Insecurity: June 2024 assessed outcomes.568

IOM indicated that 95 % of IDPs are unable to buy food due to the 'steep costs'.569 The same source indicated that reception communities have also experienced increase in the cost of food due to sudden population increases, in some cases upwards 50 %, stretching the availability of already-scarce resources.570
 
Both the SAF and the RSF have hampered the transport of humanitarian aid through the territories they control.571 Human Rights Watch reported that since late 2023, the SAF, particularly its military intelligence branch, have placed 'significant restrictions' on access to aid.572 In an interview with EUAA, a human rights analyst with in-depth expertise on the country  similarly indicated that the SAF instructed military intelligence to not allow people to buy goods in SAF-controlled areas to bring into RSF-controlled areas.573 Between February and August 2024, the SAF prevented the transit of humanitarian aid through the Adré border crossing from Chad alleging that it would benefit the RSF, and the RSF prevented the transit of humanitarian aid through El Fasher alleging that it would benefit the SAF.574

Floods have also affected areas at risk of famine.575 The rainy season, which started in June 2024, affected about 596 000 people in 15 states, including Red Sea (about 169 400 people), North Darfur (123 860), Northern (68 200), South Darfur (63 130), and River Nile (59 000).576 Out of those affected, 124 000 lived in areas at risk of famine.577

Additional information within the time reference period could not be found among the sources consulted by EUAA within the time constraints of this report.