Conflict intensifies food crisis in Sudan, impacting most vulnerable

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The years-long armed conflict in Sudan has brought on a fast-worsening food crisis, severely impacting thousands who have taken refuge in underserved camps.

Numerous Sudanese people have been displaced due to the war, causing rapid deterioration in agricultural production and food supply. The crisis has left many in hunger, especially vulnerable groups such as women and children.

At a refugee camp in the White Nile State's Kosti, nearly 10,000 displaced people take shelter. Because of the lack of stable humanitarian support, the living conditions in the camp are extremely poor. With scarce amounts of basic supplies like grains, water and medicine, many families have to get by with the assistance from local people.

"Since arriving at the refugee camp, I haven't received any help. We cannot even get the most basic drinking water here. The food I brought with me is almost running out. We have to look for food by ourselves. But most of time, the food we find could barely feed the whole family," said Aisha Alnoor, a displaced woman.

The long-term shortage in food and basic healthcare has put the survival and health of women and children living in the refugee camp in great risk. Many families are struggling under the burdens of hunger and illness, and some children have died to due to malnutrition.

"One of my children has passed away, and the other three are severely undernourished due to long-term lack of food. The one that died was only 12 years old. He suffered from anemia and jaundice before his death. But I had no money to buy medicine nor nutrition to help him recover," said Makka Hassab Alnaby, another displaced woman.

The ongoing conflict has seriously hampered Sudan's healthcare system as well. A large number of medical facilities cannot function amid repeated outbreaks of infectious diseases such as cholera and measles.

The United Nations has warned that if the conflict continues or escalates, Sudan's humanitarian crisis will deteriorate further.

Conflict intensifies food crisis in Sudan, impacting most vulnerable

China has made full preparations for the upcoming autumn grain procurement as the summer procurement approaches its end, according to the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

For now, the country's total amount of wheat procurement has exceeded 100 million tons.

To protect grain farmers' interests, the government has promptly activated the minimum purchase price program for wheat. Sinograin has opened 164 purchasing sites across two major producing provinces of Henan and Anhui, offering to buy wheat at prices supported by the policy without any volume cap.

"The payment for my grain came through quickly today, and I feel much more at ease now that the minimum purchase price policy has been put into effect," said Hou Erwei, a local farmer.

As the autumn grain crop gradually ripens across the coutry, the autumn grain purchasing season is about to begin, expected to run from late September through the end of April next year.

The Autumn season accounts for approximately three-quarters of the country’s total annual grain purchases, making it the most significant grain procurement and storage period of the year.

This year, grain dryers and smart grain-handling equipment have been included into subsidy, helping ensure that the autumn harvest can be purchased, stored, and transported smoothly.

"At present, grain storage capacity, purchasing funds, personnel, equipment, and other resources are all in place. It is expected that grain purchases during this year's peak autumn harvest season will reach approximately 350 million tons. We will strengthen market monitoring and information dissemination, as well as make effective use of the drying and other services provided by post-harvest grain service centers to help farmers reduce losses and increase their incomes," said Luo Shouquan, director of Grain Reserves Department, National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

China ready for autumn grain procurement as summer purchase draws to close