Rhino: Agencies – Dr. Abdullah Hamdok, former Sudanese Prime Minister and head of the “Sumoud” coalition, described the humanitarian situation in Sudan as a “humanitarian disaster,” noting that food has been used as a weapon in the conflict that has been ongoing since April 2023 between the Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

In his latest article, Hamdok emphasized that the conflict has claimed the lives of more than 150,000 people, while half the population—some 25 million people—faces the threat of hunger or starvation, as large parts of the country are under siege and civilians are deprived of basic food supplies. He noted that rising prices for food, fuel, and fertilizers resulting from the war in the Middle East are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

Hamdok explained that the collapse of the rural economy has worsened poverty and unemployment rates, particularly among young people, making them more vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups and extremism, or to irregular migration. More than 12 million people have been internally displaced, while over four million have fled to neighboring countries, with women, children, and the malnourished facing sexual violence and torture.

He noted that malnutrition is not limited to immediate harm but leaves long-term effects on children’s growth and economic productivity, emphasizing the need for a permanent ceasefire and access to humanitarian aid, including ready-to-use therapeutic food and vitamins for pregnant women.

He warned that a military solution is impossible, and that restoring stability and peace in Sudan can only be achieved through a negotiated political settlement that allows for a peaceful democratic transition led by civilian forces, stressing the importance of the international community’s role—particularly that of the United Kingdom as a member of the Security Council—in supporting Sudan and securing an immediate ceasefire.

Hamdok concluded his article by stating that the continuation of the war constitutes “an assault on all of humanity,” asserting that this crisis does not concern Sudan alone, but is a test of the international community’s commitment to protecting human life and striving for peace.