Famine Is Spreading in Sudan, Panel Finds

Hundreds of thousands of people face starvation in war-ravaged nation

- GABRIELE STEINHAUSER AND MOHAMED ZAKARIA

Famine has expanded to more areas of Sudan, an international panel monitoring global hunger said Tuesday, as hundreds of thousands of people face starvation in the warravaged nation.

At least 638,000 people across five localities in Sudan's Darfur and Kordofan regions are now suffering catastrophic hunger, which is equivalent to famine, according to the Famine Review Committee of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system, or IPC.

The IPC, which brings together experts from the United Nations, relief agencies and research groups, projected that another five areas were likely to plunge into famine as soon as this month, while 17 other localities are under threat of famine.

"This marks an unprecedented deepening and widening of the food and nutrition crisis, driven by the devastating conflict and poor humanitarian access," the IPC said in comments shared alongside the report.

"Starvation and death are evident," it added.

In total, 24.6 million people-half of Sudan's population are experiencing food insecurity, the IPC said.

That finding cements Sudan's status as the world's worst hunger hot spot, 20 months after a battle for power between two generals plunged the country into an all-out war.