Lord Alton: Famine is no longer a threat in Sudan, it is a reality

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A debate on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan took place in the House of Lords on Friday, 13 September. Lord Alton, described the briefing he had chaired, in which there had been harrowing reports from Geraldine O'Callaghan of the World Food Programme, Sibongani Kayola of Mercy Corps, Will Carter of the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Sudanese Women Shuttle Diplomacy Initiative.

Lord Alton said: "Along with the mass displacement of now approaching 11 million internally displaced people - adding to the 120 million displaced worldwide - we learned that 'famine is no longer a threat. It is a reality.'

"There will be no long term peace in Sudan without justice. Millions displaced, millions starving. Children are its greatest victims.

"We heard that people are dying of hunger; that skeletal children are some of the 9 out of 10 who are suffering from some form of malnutrition; with 14 million children in need of humanitarian support; that 16 humanitarian aid workers have been killed in Sudan this year - and that this ever present danger has compromised the delivery of aid to starving people. Food is also being used as a weapon of war."

To watch the full debate and read the text of Lord Alton's address see: www.davidalton.net/2024/09/14/there-will-be-no-long-term-peace-in-sudan-without-justice-millions-displaced-millions-starving-children-are-its-greatest-victims-house-of-lords-debate-on-the-situation-in-sudan-13th-september-2024/