LEICESTER, UK – A South Sudanese bishop says food was weaponized during Sudan’s civil war and that famine is now looming in the neighboring country as a direct result of the conflict.
Bishop Alex Rodion Sakor Eyobo of Yei, South Sudan, told the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales that he criticised the tactics being used in the war between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
Fighting broke out between two rival armed groups in the capital in April 2023. The conflict has so far killed about 15,000 people, according to the Preventive Action Center. More than 8.2 million people have been displaced, including about 2 million in similarly unstable environments in Chad, South Sudan and Ethiopia.
“They are harassing humanitarian agencies, and when humanitarian agencies are harassed they stop delivering food because they have to protect their own lives,” Sakor Eyobo said.
“Food aid is sometimes blocked by the RSF. [the agencies] “They use food as a weapon because if you feed people, you are also feeding their own enemies. So they use food as a weapon and if the food doesn’t arrive, their enemies are weakened. That’s their mindset,” the bishop said.
“The famine is not because of drought, it’s because of conflict,” he said.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), thousands of people are leaving Sudan every day, fleeing looming famine as well as brutal violence, abuse, death, disruption to services and limited access to humanitarian aid.
“It’s horrifying, but this is not just about hunger, it’s also about brutal human rights violations and floods this year that are expected to be the worst for years. Not only are the floods hindering humanitarian deliveries, they mean people are left stranded with little aid and no way to escape,” said Euan Watson, the UN agency’s international communications director.
Sakor Eyobo told the Anglican Church that the problem with the famine is that Sudan cannot produce because people are fleeing.
“So when you are on the run, you have nothing to produce yourself. When you flee, you leave your belongings behind. Where do you get money as refugees? You don’t even have money to buy food,” the bishop said.
“Even if there is food in the market, there is no way to buy it. So it’s difficult and there is hunger. People are displaced, they are forced out of their homes, they can’t produce food and because they can’t produce food there is hunger,” he added.
The bishop said the war was making the problem worse.
“And even the Pope, when he spoke about Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel, said, ‘War is a defeat.’ If humanity wants to wage war, it is a defeat. It is not a success. You will never be successful in war,” Sakor Eyobo said.
“Lives are being destroyed, property is being destroyed and before you know it, everything is lost. It’s not easy to rebuild. So our appeal is for humanitarian organisations to step up, to act quickly and to address these issues,” he continued.
“We are engaging with our communities, who are being torn apart as a result of the war, to ensure that they are not exploited by the elites, who will use us for their own gain and it is we, the people, who will suffer as a result,” the bishop said.
Bishop Paul Swarbrick, chief bishop for Africa at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said it was “essential” to resolve the Sudan conflict as quickly and effectively as possible.
“While other conflicts have garnered media attention, Sudan’s war is already spilling over into destabilizing neighbouring countries with growing implications for South Sudan,” he added.
“Earlier this year I received an encouraging response from pastors in the UK in terms of practical help and political intervention, and I also heard from Bishop Carlasalle of Rumbek. The presence of the Church in times of political unrest and food insecurity is a reason to remain hopeful. Christ has not abandoned his people,” Swarbrick said.
