In brief
In a troubling development, Sudan's military government has expelled two high-ranking officials from the UN's World Food Programme, intensifying an already critical humanitarian crisis. With over 24 million people facing acute food insecurity, the decision follows recent territorial gains made by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Darfur amidst accusations of severe human rights violations. The WFP has stated it will continue to engage with Sudanese authorities despite the expulsions.
Sudan's military government has ordered two senior officials at the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) to leave the country amid widespread famine sparked by a gruelling civil war that erupted in April 2023.The WFP said directors of its Sudan operation were declared personae non grata and told to go within 72 hours, without explanation.The decision comes days after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured the key city of el-Fasher in Darfur from the military after an 18-month siege, which included a food blockade.The WFP said the expulsions came at a pivotal time as humanitarian needs in Sudan had never been greater with more than 24 million people facing acute food insecurity.Although the military government has not given a reason for the expulsions, it has previously accused aid groups of breaking local laws and releasing misleading reports on famine conditions.The government stated that the expulsion would not affect the country's cooperation with the WFP, according to the state news agency Suna. The WFP is currently engaging with Sudanese authorities to resolve the matter.Two-and-a-half years of fighting between the army and the RSF escalated on Sunday when the RSF took el-Fasher, raising fears for the estimated 250,000 people trapped there, many from non-Arab communities. Reports of atrocities, including mass killings, have surged since the city fell.Local accounts describe a dire situation in el-Fasher, with allegations of looting and violence as the RSF advances. The situation is extremely dire... with no distinction made between young or old, reported a man who managed to flee.The RSF, although facing accusations of ethnic targeting, has denied targeting civilians. However, renewed fears have emerged reminiscent of the early 2000s, when a humanitarian disaster gripped Darfur, reminiscent of the previous genocide and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the Janjaweed militia, now transformed into the RSF.As international bodies raise alarms, the ongoing developments signal an urgent call for humanitarian aid and intervention as the crisis deepens.
