The Sudanese army and the rival Rapid Security Forces (RSF) have been in conflict since last April. Lack of humanitarian access and other unnecessary obstacles slow operations and prevent the World Food Program (WFP) from providing lifesaving assistance to people.

The number of people going hungry in Sudan has doubled over the past year, the World Food Program (WFP) said on Friday.

“The situation in Sudan today is nothing short of catastrophic,” said Eddie Rowe, WFP Sudan Representative and Country Director. He also noted that the lack of humanitarian access and other unnecessary obstacles are slowing operations and preventing us from providing life-saving assistance to the people who need our support most.

According to the latest estimates, the number of people suffering from an emergency situation due to the conflict in regions such as Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan is almost five million people.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, also called for urgent and additional assistance during his visit to Sudan, for Sudanese refugees, more than 100,000 of whom have fled to Ethiopia since the start of the war. Ethiopia is one of six countries neighboring Sudan that continue to host thousands of people fleeing fighting.

The Sudanese army and the rival Rapid Security Forces (RSF) have been in conflict since last April. As a result of this conflict, nearly 18 million people are currently facing acute hunger across the country.