Accusations have been leveled against the opposing factions in Sudan, alleging their use of starvation as a weapon of war.

Both sides involved in Sudan's brutal civil war are employing starvation as a deliberate weapon of conflict, according to UN experts who spoke out on Wednesday. They accused foreign governments that provide military support to the warring factions of being complicit in war crimes.

The conflict has been ongoing for over a year between Sudan's regular military (SAF), led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), formerly under his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Beginning in April 2023, the conflict has resulted in thousands of fatalities and triggered one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.

Four independent UN human rights experts highlighted that more than 25 million civilians are facing severe hunger and urgent need for aid, with warnings of an imminent famine. "Both the SAF and the RSF are using food as a weapon, deliberately starving civilians," stated the experts, including the special rapporteur on the right to food.

They emphasized the dire situation in El-Fasher, the last Darfur city outside RSF control, where hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped and suffering from hunger and thirst due to severe shortages of food and water.

"The scale of hunger and displacement we are witnessing in Sudan today is unprecedented," noted the experts, who are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but do not represent the UN.

In a press release, they urged both sides to "cease obstructing, plundering, and exploiting humanitarian assistance." They pointed out that local efforts to address the crisis are being hindered not only by extreme violence but also by targeted attacks on aid workers.

"The deliberate targeting of humanitarian personnel and local volunteers has undermined relief efforts, exposing millions to increased risk of starvation," they added.

The experts asserted that "foreign governments providing financial and military support to both conflicting parties are complicit in the crimes of starvation, crimes against humanity, and war crimes."

While the experts did not identify specific countries, they called on the warring parties to immediately agree to a ceasefire and engage in inclusive political negotiations. They also appealed to the international community to intensify humanitarian efforts.

"It is crucial for the UN, international donors, and states to expedite measures to alleviate the suffering of millions of Sudanese people facing famine," they concluded.