Tánaiste Micheál Martin has called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflicts in both Sudan and Gaza as unprecedented levels of hunger are declared across both regions.
Two bodies charged by the humanitarian community with monitoring food insecurity for the world’s most vulnerable communities have issued stark reports on Sudan and Gaza, describing as catastrophic the scale and intensity of hunger caused by the conflict and the deliberate denial of humanitarian access by the warring parties.
In Sudan, famine has been declared in multiple locations across the country, on a scale which has not been seen in a century, the Tánaiste said.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system has declared famine in five areas, affecting over a half a million people, with a further five areas due to enter famine conditions in the next few months.
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Although not yet confirmed by the formal IPC process, in Gaza the famine early warning systems network has determined that famine thresholds have been reached (IPC 5) in the North Gaza Governate.
“Both of these catastrophes are man-made – caused by conflict, forced displacement, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid,” Mr Martin said. “Ireland calls for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan and for full and unimpeded humanitarian access to halt this entirely preventable horror.”
The ongoing siege in northern Gaza was “unconscionable” and there was a strong likelihood that famine was imminent, he said.
“Humanitarian access continues to be severely curtailed by the Israeli authorities ... We call for an end to the ongoing military operation in Gaza,” Mr Martin said.
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