Cindy McCain: Sudan’s Conflict Could Spark World’s Worst Hunger Crisis
Cindy McCain, the executive director of the World Food Program (WFP), issued a stark warning from Juba, South Sudan, highlighting the imminent threat of the world’s largest hunger crisis prompted by ongoing conflict in Sudan. During her recent visit to South Sudan, McCain encountered families escaping the violence and hunger that now engulfs Sudan, South Sudan, and Chad, with over 25 million people facing deteriorating food security conditions. Her statements underscore the dire need for immediate cessation of hostilities and unrestricted humanitarian access to mitigate the escalating emergency.
This holiday season, give to:
Truth and understanding
The Media Line's intrepid correspondents are in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Pakistan providing first-person reporting.
They all said they cover it.
We see it.
We report with just one agenda: the truth.
McCain vividly recalled the global response to Darfur’s hunger crisis two decades ago, lamenting the current neglect of Sudan’s populace amidst a conflict threatening millions and the broader regional stability. She emphasized the urgent need for emergency food assistance, hindered by violence and logistical barriers, with 90% of those in critical need residing in areas beyond WFP’s reach.
The situation is exacerbated as cross-border aid deliveries from Chad to Darfur have ceased, following the revocation of necessary permissions by authorities. McCain’s observations in Renk, eastern South Sudan—where 600,000 individuals have sought refuge—paint a grim picture of displacement and severe hunger, particularly affecting newly arrived individuals who constitute a significant portion of those facing catastrophic hunger levels. The WFP’s capacity to address this unprecedented need is strained, spotlighting the grave humanitarian challenge that lies ahead.
