The United Nations food agency announced that it has received reports of fatalities due to starvation in Sudan. The ongoing conflict between competing military leaders is hindering the delivery of crucial aid and food resources to those in dire need.

For the past 10 months, there have been ongoing conflicts in Sudan between the military, headed by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, a strong paramilitary group under the leadership of Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. These clashes have caused extensive destruction in the northeastern region of Africa.

In April, the conflict began in Khartoum and rapidly expanded to other parts of the country, following months of building animosity between the opposing groups.

The World Food Program reported that approximately 18 million individuals in Sudan are currently experiencing severe food shortages, with the most vulnerable being stuck in areas affected by the conflict.

The areas at risk for supply disruptions include Khartoum, the western Darfur region, and the provinces of Kordofan and Gezira. These regions experience roadblocks, taxation demands, and security threats that jeopardize the flow of resources.

Eddie Rowe, the director for Sudan at WFP, stated that crucial aid is not reaching the most vulnerable individuals, leading to reports of starvation-related deaths.

According to the United Nations, the conflict has resulted in a minimum of 12,000 fatalities. However, local medical organizations claim that the actual number is significantly higher. The U.N. migration agency reports that over 10.7 million individuals have been forced to leave their homes.

In the past three months, it appears that Dagalo’s paramilitary forces have been dominating the conflict by moving their fighters east and north through Sudan’s central region. Both sides have been accused of committing war crimes by various human rights organizations.

Partners in Africa, as well as Saudi Arabia and the United States, have been attempting to negotiate a resolution to the ongoing conflict. The US has coordinated multiple rounds of indirect talks between the opposing sides, but Burhan and Dagalo have not yet had a face-to-face meeting since the conflict started.