Famine (IPC Phase 5) has reached desperate levels in the Zamzam camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sudan, as reported by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET). The ongoing intense conflict has pushed the camp past the threshold for Famine, with evidence showing extreme levels of acute food insecurity and critical malnutrition.
FEWS NET highlights the importance of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) scale in identifying and addressing global hunger. The scale, with five phases, helps classify the severity of food insecurity, with Phase 5 indicating extreme lack of food and basic needs, leading to starvation, destitution, and high mortality rates.
The conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has triggered the world’s largest displacement crisis, with nearly 330,000 people displaced between April and June 2024. The destruction of infrastructure, disrupted trade, and limited humanitarian access have worsened food shortages and health services.
FEWS NET warns of potential Famine in other IDP camps in the Al Fasher region and calls for urgent action to prevent further suffering. Humanitarian aid and government support are crucial to ensuring food assistance reaches vulnerable populations and mitigates the risk of starvation.