Sudan pulls out of hunger-monitoring system as famine threatens millions

The Sudanese government has announced its suspension from the global hunger-monitoring system, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), just ahead of a report expected to reveal the worsening famine across the country.

In a letter dated December 23, Sudan's Agriculture Minister stated that the country was halting its involvement in the IPC, accusing the system of issuing "unreliable reports" that undermine Sudan's sovereignty and dignity, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The IPC is due to release a report on December 26, which is expected to indicate that famine has spread to five areas of Sudan, with projections suggesting it could affect ten regions by May 2024. According to a briefing document seen by Reuters, the crisis is driven by ongoing conflict and limited humanitarian access, marking an unprecedented escalation in the food and nutrition emergency. A spokesperson for the Rome-based IPC declined to comment on Sudan's withdrawal.

The decision to withdraw could have serious implications for the international community's ability to respond to Sudan's hunger crisis. A leader of an NGO operating in Sudan, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that although the move would not change the reality of hunger on the ground, it would hinder the global response by removing an independent source of analysis.

"Without independent analysis, we’re flying blind into this storm of food insecurity," the source said.

The IPC, funded by Western nations and overseen by 19 major humanitarian organizations, is a key tool in the global fight against famine. It partners with governments to assess food insecurity and alert the international community to emerging crises.

However, its work in Sudan has been hampered by the civil war, which erupted in April 2023, and ongoing disruptions to data collection in areas controlled by both the government and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Earlier this year, Sudan’s government delayed a famine determination for the Zamzam camp for internally displaced persons, where some people have resorted to eating tree leaves to survive. The December 23 letter also raised concerns about the accuracy of the upcoming IPC report, citing the absence of updated malnutrition data and crop productivity assessments.

The challenges facing the IPC extend beyond Sudan, with reports from Myanmar and Yemen showing similar attempts by authorities to obstruct or falsify data, or suppress findings.

Alex de Waal, Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation, criticized Sudan’s decision, calling it "both pathetic and tragic," citing a long history of Sudanese authorities denying famine reports. “They’re more concerned about their pride and control than the lives of their citizens,” de Waal said.

By Aghakazim Guliyev