Statement by the Tánaiste on hunger, famine and conflict in Sudan and Gaza
- Published on: 24 December 2024
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
The Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, has called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflicts in both Sudan and Gaza as unprecedented levels of hunger are declared.
Today, 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 a catastrophic scale and intensity of hunger caused by the conflict and 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 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. Seventeen more areas across Sudan are at risk of famine, with 8 million people today already in IPC 4 (emergency) levels of food insecurity, experiencing extreme food shortages, acute malnutrition, and excessive disease levels, with the risk of hunger-related death rapidly increasing. 15.7 million people are in IPC 3 (crisis) conditions.
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 North Gaza Governate.
The Tánaiste said:
"Both of these catastrophes are man-made – caused by conflict, forced displacement, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid.
"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 is unconscionable where there is a strong likelihood that famine is imminent and humanitarian access continues to be severely curtailed by the Israeli authorities. We call for an end to the ongoing military operation in Gaza.”
In Sudan, as humanitarian access continues to be impeded, the conflict parties have effectively carved up control and exploitation of the resources of the people of Sudan, exporting record levels of livestock and agricultural and mining products, with the support of external sponsors. The ongoing large scale forced displacement of communities, destruction of food and agriculture infrastructure, and attacks on local humanitarian assistance and protection responders are further deepening the suffering. Yesterday, the Sudanese authorities withdrew their participation in the formal IPC system, accusing the IPC of ‘issuing unreliable reports that undermine Sudan's sovereignty and dignity’.
In Gaza, an almost complete blockade of humanitarian and commercial food supplies to besieged areas of North Gaza Governorate (including Jabaliya, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun) has been in place for nearly 80 days.
Notes
The two reports mentioned in the text can be found below: