Sudan - August 08, 2024

A prolonged armed conflict in Sudan has incurred severe damage to the country's agriculture sector, triggering an unprecedented food crisis.

Erupting in last April, the over-one-year clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have interrupted grain trade and agricultural supply chains, resulting in soaring prices of agricultural machinery, fertilizers, seeds, and insufficient agricultural production inputs, ultimately leading to a significant reduction in agricultural output.

The armed conflict has also led to the displacement of around 13 million people. A large number of agricultural workers left their homes, causing a sharp decline in the rate of farmland cultivation.

Entering 2024, Sudan's farmland is further reduced as fighting spreads further into the main food-producing areas of central and southeastern Sudan.

Toby Howard, deputy humanitarian coordinator for Sudan of the United Nations, said on July 29 that the humanitarian situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate, many civilians have died of malnutrition, and some displaced people rely on eating leaves and rice husks to survive.

The armed conflict between the SAF and the RSF broke out in Khartoum on April 15, 2023, subsequently engulfing other regions of the country, and continues to this day, leaving the country facing one of the world's most severe refugee crises.

Shotlist:
Sudan - Aug 8, 2024:
1. Aerial shots of farmland;
2. Various of farmers harvesting crops;
3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Asim Ismail, agricultural expert (ending with shots 4-6):
"Sudan's agricultural production had already faced many difficulties before the conflict, after which the economy plummeted even more to an extent closing to a full collapse, plunging the lives of all residents into distress.";
FILE: Sudan - Date Unknown
4. Aerial shot of farmland;
5. Farmland;
6. Various of displaced people;
7. Various of farmland;
Sudan - Aug 5-8, 2024
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohamed Alfateh, resident (ending with shots 9-10):
"This is the social reality we face now. Due to the war, the economy has declined significantly, and almost all supplies are in shortage. So the price hikes are a consequent result. Food has in particular become a much-needed commodity.";
FILE: Sudan - Date Unknown
9. Various of people sitting in line waiting for food aid;
10. Various of people moving bags of staples, distributing food.

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