As Ramadan commences in Sudan, skyrocketing prices and food shortages due to ongoing conflict have diminished the festive spirit. Residents in Port Sudan face immense challenges affording basic items, while violence has severed supply routes in many regions, leading to widespread famine. Reports indicate severe human suffering with families drastically affected by rising costs and scarcity of food, prompting urgent humanitarian calls for assistance.
In Port Sudan, residents are facing significant financial challenges as they prepare for Ramadan amid soaring prices caused by ongoing conflict. While Port Sudan remains relatively safe, the war ravaging the nation has severely impacted the availability and cost of essential goods. Basic items like sugar have seen prices rise drastically, with residents struggling to afford the necessities for the holy month of Ramadan, reflecting a stark contrast to the customary spirit of community and generosity associated with this period.
The situation is particularly severe in war-stricken areas where famine, displacement, and looting have diminished the usual celebration of Ramadan. The costs of basic foodstuffs have skyrocketed, with veal and mutton prices skyrocketing to unaffordable levels for many families. Mahmoud Abd El Kader stated, “We are struggling to afford Ramadan goods,” highlighting the economic crisis many are enduring.
With an average monthly income of only around $60, many public workers have gone unpaid during the conflict, exacerbating their economic hardship. The Sudanese pound’s value has plummeted, significantly impacting purchasing power as inflation rates soared to an alarming 145 percent. Citizens in some regions are facing not only high prices but also scarcity of food, with access to essential supplies hindered by ongoing violence.
In regions like Darfur and Kordofan, vital supply routes have been severed due to warfare, resulting in starvation for many. Reports indicate that famine is intensifying, with residents resorting to the consumption of non-traditional food sources such as peanut shells. Humanitarian aid has become scarce, and the World Food Programme has had to suspend operations in certain famine-affected areas due to escalating violence.
Omar Manago, a humanitarian worker in North Darfur, indicated the dire conditions faced by families lacking food and clean drinking water, stating, “Many families have not eaten a proper meal in months.” Rising concerns over mass deaths from starvation have prompted warnings from the UN’s human rights chief about the severe risks facing numerous individuals. Many markets in conflict-affected areas have vanished, leading to increased looting.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has severely disrupted the celebration of Ramadan, plunging many citizens into a state of economic despair marked by skyrocketing prices and food shortages. With humanitarian aid access critically limited, the specter of widespread famine looms large. As communities struggle to maintain Ramadan traditions, the conflict has rendered the usual spirit of generosity and celebration virtually unrecognizable in many areas affected by war.
Original Source: www.arabnews.jp
