[Dateline : Recent]

Storyline:
Rampant wars triggered by year-long military disputes in Sudan have been deteriorating the African country's humanitarian situation, and an unprecedented food crisis is set to impact the whole population as UN has warned recently.

The latest data released by the United Nations (UN) showed that about 18 million people in Sudan are living in serious food insecurity and less than 5 percent of the country's population can afford a square meal a day. UN estimated that unprecedented hunger may be coming soon.

Ever since fleeing from the capital Khartoum to the eastern city of Port Sudan late last year, Mahasen Ali's family has been living in a local temporary shelter.

As a housewife, Mahasen Ali is responsible for cooking for the family of over a dozen, but most of the time, she cannot find enough food. As a result, the entire family live on a few large pancakes and a small bowl of rice for the day.

Sudan's agriculture took a severe hit from the year-long military conflict, with its grain production fell by 46 percent year over year in 2023 and many regions reporting depletion or near-depletion of food stocks.

Acute food shortage has been pushing up local food prices, in some region, the prices are two to three times higher than the pre-conflict level.

In addition, a large portion of the country's population has no access to food aid as humanitarian assistance was blocked due to security concerns.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Cindy McCain warned last month that "the war in Sudan risks triggering the world's largest hunger crisis."

To make the situation worse, the coming May will see Sudan enter its annual dry season, when the country's food situation becomes most challenging.

Without significant increase in food aid entering Sudan, UN warned, unprecedented famine will impact the whole country.

Since the armed conflict broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15, 2023, regional and international powers have made mediation efforts to convince the warring parties to agree on a political path to ending the conflict. Yet, no significant success has been achieved.

So far, 14,790 fatalities have been recorded in Sudan, while the number of people displaced has reached 8.2 million, according to the latest report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Shotlist:
Sudan - Recent:
1. Various of UNICEF camps, residents;
2. Various of Mahasen Ali, displaced Sudanese, cooking;
3. Food;
4. Mahasen Ali's family;
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mahasen Ali, displaced Sudanese:
"When we first reached the temporary shelter, some charity organizations offered help, and they gave food to us. But later, the assistance stopped. Now I walk around the nearby markets every day, trying to get some food for free. Life is really hard, several members of my family have fallen ill.";
FILE: Sudan - Date Unknown:
6. Various of village, residents;
Sudan - Recent:
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Yao, Deputy Representative, Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations (ending with shot 8):
"After one year of crisis, so, conflict, the humanitarian situation in Sudan is very difficult. About 25 million people are in needs of all types of humanitarian assistance, including food and nutrition security. Above 18 million people are food insecure.";
FILE: Sudan - Date Unknown:
8. Various of children playing, residents;
9. Various of residents carrying food bags;
Sudan - Recent:
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohamed Gmal, communication officer, World Food Program:
"So it is the most priority that we have humanitarian corridors to reach the ones in need and for the fighting to stop so that we can at least alleviate the suffering of Sudanese people.";
FILE: Sudan - Date Unknown:
11. Truck of World Food Programme;
12. Various of residents carrying food bags;
13. Various of street scene.

[RESTRICTIONS: No access Chinese mainland/Al-Arabiya TV/Middle East Broadcasting Center]