Sudan: Food prices in Sudan have surged again as the armed conflict continues, making it increasingly difficult for more people to make ends meet.
Sudan has been embroiled in an armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023. The fighting has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people within the country and abroad.
The conflict has continued to weaken the Sudanese pound, pushing up the prices of various commodities, including food. Food prices have risen nearly tenfold compared with levels before the conflict began.
"Today, 1,000 Sudanese pounds can only buy three pancakes, whereas I could buy five for the same price two weeks ago. Now, most people are living a very hard life, with no incomes and no welfare guarantees at all," said local resident Ali Abdallah Adam.
"Prices are rising for all commodities. The prices of cooking oil, sugar, coffee, tea and milk powder are all rising, and I simply can't afford such increases. I can only make a living by doing some odd jobs. My income is meagre, but the prices keep going up," said another resident, Khalifa Mohammed.
A major reason behind Sudan's high food prices is the loss of farmers and severe damage to agricultural infrastructure caused by the prolonged conflict.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF warned in May that nearly 19.5 million people, two out of every five people in Sudan, were facing crisis levels of acute food insecurity across the country.
"You have an ongoing war and then combine the war and impacts of El Nino, that is very, very severe. Compared to last year, I think there has been a reduction up to 40 percent (in grain output). Then the other issue is also irrigation. At this time of crisis, about 75 percent of irrigated areas in the country are not operational," said Kennedy Igbokwe, an FAO official in Sudan.
In addition, continued tensions in West Asia have pushed up the prices of energy, fertiliser and other goods used in agricultural production in Sudan.
"The tense regional situation has left a severe impact on Sudan. The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran pushed up the prices of natural gas and fuel oil. Diesel is often out of supply at gas stations. Sometimes, we were not able to refuel even after waiting in line for three hours. The war in Iran has left a serious impact," said Mohammed Hassan Ali, a bakery owner in Port Sudan.