Urgent Humanitarian Appeal to Save the People of Nyala from Impending Famine
“The people of Nyala are standing on the brink of famine, with families unable to secure even a single meal a day. Malnutrition among children is rising rapidly, health centers are overwhelmed, and basic food prices have soared beyond the reach of ordinary households. We urgently appeal to the international community to act now-before hunger claims countless innocent lives and turns this silent crisis into a devastating tragedy.”
The Nubian Center for Peace and Democracy, in collaboration with the Youth Ambitions Initiative, has issued an urgent appeal under the slogan “Nyala is Calling You” to confront the imminent threat of an undeclared famine in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State.
This appeal follows a field visit to several neighborhoods and markets in the city, during which the team observed a sharp increase in the prices of basic food items and fuel. Prices reached alarming levels: a malwa of onions 7,500 SDG, a bottle of oil 2,200 SDG, 1 kg of sugar 4,000 SDG, a malwa of marek flour 10,500 SDG, a malwa of wheat flour 10,000 SDG, and a malwa of millet flour 11,000 SDG. A gallon of gasoline exceeded 35,000 SDG, while the lowest public transport fare reached 700 SDG, and bank transfer commissions (Bankak) reached 30%.
Millet flour is a staple food for most families, with each household needing around 15,000 SDG daily for two meals. Thousands of families struggle to afford even one meal per day, and many cannot provide half a meal, particularly the poorest households with no access to external support.
The statement highlighted that residents of Nyala are living in dire conditions, facing extreme difficulty securing basic necessities amid soaring prices and scarce cash liquidity. This has led to rising child malnutrition and overcrowded health centers, posing a severe threat to thousands of lives.
In response, the Nubian Center for Peace and Democracy and the Youth Ambitions Initiative called on the international community and humanitarian organizations to intervene urgently to save lives and alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians before the looming hunger escalates into a full-blown disaster across the city.
Nubian Center for Peace and Democracy
Youth Ambitions Initiative
Nyala, South Darfur – September 9, 2024
