There are concerns over the alarming increase in hunger levels in Sudan, with a high risk of a catastrophic humanitarian crisis on the horizon if immediate actions are not taken.

Development Diaries reports that at least 37 percent of Sudan’s population is grappling with severe levels of food insecurity.

A new food security analysis for Sudan shows the highest levels of hunger ever recorded during the harvest season (October through February), typically a period when more food is available.

Nearly 18 million people across Sudan are facing acute hunger, more than double the number at the same time a year ago.

This figure is also higher than the initial projection of 15 million made in the previous assessment in August, demonstrating just how rapidly the food security situation is worsening due to the ongoing conflict.

Close to five million people are in emergency levels of food insecurity with over three-quarters of these people cornered in areas where humanitarian access has been intermittent and, in some areas, impossible due to ongoing fighting

‘The speed at which hunger has risen over the past year is alarming. More and more people are struggling to eat a basic meal a day, and unless things change there is a very real risk they won’t even be able to do that’, World Food Programme’s (WFP) Country Director for Sudan, Eddie Rowe, said in a statement.

If there is no significant increase in food assistance by the time the lean season arrives next May, conflict hotspots could see the emergence of catastrophic hunger.

Development Diaries calls on donor organisations and development partners to increase their assistance to the people of Sudan to help avoid the impending humanitarian catastrophe.