Sudan’s government has suspended its participation in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a key global hunger-monitoring system, just days before a crucial report on the state of famine in the country. The move, announced in a letter dated December 23, has raised concerns among humanitarian organizations and experts, as it could severely hinder global efforts to address one of the world’s largest hunger crises.
In the letter, Sudan’s Agriculture Minister accused the IPC of issuing “unreliable reports” that undermine the nation’s sovereignty and dignity. The government’s decision comes on the eve of an IPC report that is expected to reveal the spread of famine across Sudan, with five areas currently in the midst of a food crisis and an additional five likely to follow by May 2024. The report, according to a briefing document seen by Reuters, highlights the worsening food and nutrition crisis, which is largely driven by the ongoing conflict between Sudan’s army-backed government and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group.
The IPC, an independent body funded by Western nations and overseen by numerous humanitarian organizations, plays a pivotal role in identifying and addressing food insecurity worldwide. The system is designed to monitor hunger and famine trends, alerting the international community to emerging crises so that organizations can step in and provide aid before conditions worsen into full-scale famine.
Sudan’s withdrawal from the IPC system could have serious implications for the millions of Sudanese suffering from hunger and malnutrition. According to a source from a non-governmental organization (NGO) operating in Sudan, the government’s exit from the system “won’t change the reality of hunger on the ground,” but it will deprive the international community of a critical tool to respond effectively to the crisis. Without the IPC’s independent analysis, humanitarian groups and agencies may struggle to assess the severity of the food security situation in Sudan and coordinate appropriate interventions.
Sudan’s decision to halt cooperation with the IPC is not an isolated case. The system has faced growing challenges in recent years, particularly in conflict zones where governments have obstructed or manipulated the flow of data. In Myanmar and Yemen, for example, authorities have blocked or falsified hunger data, making it harder for the IPC to provide accurate assessments of food insecurity. In Sudan, the situation has become even more complicated since the outbreak of civil war in April 2023. The ongoing conflict has disrupted data collection, particularly in areas controlled by the RSF, further complicating efforts to accurately gauge the extent of the crisis.
Earlier this year, the Sudanese government was accused of delaying a famine determination for the Zamzam camp, where thousands of internally displaced people were forced to resort to eating tree leaves to survive. The government also expressed concerns about the IPC’s ability to collect accurate data in RSF-controlled territories, arguing that the organization’s findings were based on incomplete information. However, many experts argue that the government’s actions are part of a long history of denying famine in Sudan, often for political reasons. Alex de Waal, an expert on famine and executive director of the World Peace Foundation, called Sudan’s move to withdraw from the IPC “both pathetic and tragic.” He noted that Sudan’s government has historically been more concerned with protecting its sovereignty and pride than addressing the suffering of its people, even in the face of widespread famine.
The international community, including governments and humanitarian organizations, will now be left to navigate Sudan’s hunger crisis without the IPC’s crucial analysis. While Sudan’s withdrawal may complicate global efforts to address the crisis, the reality of hunger on the ground is undeniable. The government’s decision to shut off access to independent assessments only highlights the growing challenges in responding to the food insecurity crisis in Sudan, a situation that continues to worsen as the conflict rages on.
