MEDIA ADVISORY

Famine conditions prevalent in parts of North Darfur

Today, the Famine Review Committee (FRC) of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has concluded that famine conditions are prevalent in parts of North Darfur, including the Zamzam camp south of El Fasher. The escalating violence in Sudan, persisting for over 15 months now, has pushed parts of North Darfur, notably the Zamzam camp near El Fasher town, into Famine conditions.

After a comprehensive review of the available evidence, the FRC has determined that it is plausible that IPC Phase 5 (Famine) conditions, the worst form of hunger, are currently present and are likely to continue through the end of October 2024. Famine, the highest IPC Phase, is an IPC classification at the area level. Areas are classified in IPC Phase 5 (Famine) when at least one in five (or 20 percent) people or households have an extreme lack of food and face starvation and destitution, resulting in extremely critical levels of acute malnutrition and death.

The FRC limited its analysis and conclusions specifically to the Zamzam IDP camp due to the specific requests for FRC activation. It is essential to note, however, that other areas of Sudan, both within Darfur and elsewhere, are potentially experiencing Famine and will remain at risk of Famine if the conflict continues and humanitarian access is denied for the provision of aid and commercial deliveries at the scale and urgency necessary.

Please find below the Famine Review Committee (FRC) of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report. The world Health Organization ( WHO) is a member of IPC.

https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-107/en/

Additional information:

https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/sudan-emergency

Note to editors:

The IPC global Famine Review Committee (FRC) is a team of leading independent international food security, nutrition and mortality experts. The committee is tasked with reviewing and debating available evidence, and IPC analysis results to determine whether a Famine classification is warranted.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is an innovative multi-partner initiative for improving food security and nutrition analysis and decision-making. Using the IPC classification and analytical approach, Governments, UN Agencies, NGOs, civil society, and other relevant actors work together to determine the severity and magnitude of acute and chronic food insecurity and acute malnutrition situations in a country according to internationally recognised scientific standards.

Media contact:

mediainquiries@who.int

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