One year into the war in Sudan, the dire humanitarian situation continues to escalate, with children dying from hunger and sick individuals unable to afford medical treatment. As the conflict between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamad Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo, rages on, the population of Sudan is slipping towards famine.

The ongoing fighting, coupled with extensive destruction and reduced agricultural production, has caused food prices to skyrocket, making it increasingly difficult for people to find enough to eat. Mukhtar Atif, a spokesperson for the volunteer network known as the "emergency response rooms" (ERRs), stated that "civilians are dying in silence." The ERRs provide a single meal per day to approximately 45,000 people through community kitchens in Khartoum North.

However, the ERRs face limitations and rely heavily on mobile banking app donations, which have become inaccessible due to a near-total communication blackout since February. This has resulted in the closure of hundreds of kitchens, leaving only a few functioning ones where people stand in long queues for meager servings of food.

The conflict initially centered in Khartoum but has since spread, causing significant disruptions in the movement of food and aid convoys. The United Nations (UN) estimates that nearly 25 million people, half of Sudan's population, require assistance, while over eight million have been displaced from their homes.

Both sides of the conflict are obstructing the delivery of aid to areas controlled by their rivals. Bureaucratic hurdles imposed by the army have delayed aid convoys, with a clearance process requiring multiple stamps, often taking days or even weeks. The RSF's command structures create further obstacles, impeding access to areas under their control and surrounding regions. Allegations of profiteering from aid convoys have emerged, although RSF spokesperson Abdel Rahman al-Jaali did not respond to inquiries on the matter.

The food crisis has been compounded by a nearly two-month-long mobile network shutdown, cutting off remittances sent by overseas relatives, which many depend on for survival. The few moments of connectivity provided by Elon Musk's Starlink satellite communication service come at a steep cost, further exacerbating the difficulties faced by the population.

Desperate measures are being taken to secure food, including parents skipping meals for their children, selling possessions, begging for money, and diverting funds from medicine to purchase food. Shockingly, reports have emerged of women being forced to exchange sex for food or becoming mistresses to RSF fighters to ensure their families' safety and access to food.

The healthcare system in Sudan is also on the brink of collapse. Al-Baluk Hospital, the only functioning pediatric health facility in Khartoum, witnesses the death of two or three children every week due to hunger, according to a Lancet report.

Experts and aid groups have issued warnings of an impending humanitarian catastrophe. The lean season, when food stores are depleted and prices skyrocket, is expected to worsen in May. Food monitoring groups and UN agencies have stressed that this season has already begun, as farmers abandon their land due to the ongoing conflict. Sudan's cereal production has plummeted, particularly in areas of intense fighting.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has reported that nearly five million people are one step away from famine, while an additional 18 million face acute food insecurity. Gezira state, once a vital hub for trade and humanitarian operations, has been captured by the RSF, resulting in severe disruptions to wheat production and grain reserves.

The situation is dire, with experts warning that famine could claim the lives of up to one million people if current circumstances persist. For the most vulnerable, this scenario has already become a tragic reality. The heartbreaking image of a three-year-old boy, Ihsan Adam Abdullah, lying skeletal and lifeless, serves as a haunting reminder of the urgent need for intervention.

Refugee camps across Darfur have not received aid for nearly 11 months, leaving families without even a single meal a day. The situation is desperate, with food supplies limited to sorghum flour and water, leading to further malnutrition and suffering.

As Sudan enters its second year of war, the international community must act swiftly to address the hunger crisis and provide much-needed aid to save countless lives. The lives of thousands hang in the balance as famine looms over the nation.