Sudan is experiencing a severe bread shortage, with most bakeries in the capital Khartoum shutting down due to surging wheat prices and fuel shortages. The situation has become unbearable for many, with a 44-year-old mother of three, Sawsan Mahmoud, stating that she and her husband now spend their combined salaries on bread alone. The price of a loaf in Khartoum has doubled from 250 to 500 Sudanese pounds over the past week.
The bread shortage is a significant blow to Sudanese people, who rely heavily on bread as a staple food. Many bakeries have closed due to the lack of flour in the market, with Mohammed al-Fateh, a bakery owner, stating that "many bakeries have closed because there is no flour in the market." The situation is further complicated by power cuts, which have forced some bakeries to buy fuel for their generators.
The Sudanese pound has lost about 25 percent of its value against the dollar over the past month, hitting a record low of more than 10,500 pounds to the dollar before recovering slightly to around 10,200. This has made it difficult for the government to buy fuel, most of which the country imports. Civil servant Yasser Mohammed said he had been waiting in line for petrol since six in the morning and still had not obtained any.
The war in Sudan has divided the country into rival zones of influence, with the army holding Khartoum and central and eastern Sudan, while the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) controls the vast Darfur region in the west and parts of the south. This has led to road closures and fuel shortages, preventing wheat supplies from being delivered. The UN-backed reports warn that famine could spread to eight cities by 2027.
Poverty rates in Sudan have soared to 80 percent, according to data from the central bureau of statistics, while inflation registered an astounding 99 percent last year. The nutritional value of each meal has declined, with Al-Muradi Awad stating that "the price of a kilogram of meat ranges between 50,000 and 70,000 pounds. If you could previously afford to buy two kilograms of meat, today you will buy 125 grams."
International organisations have been sounding the alarm over the possible spread of famine, already declared in parts of the country, while around 20 million people suffer from severe food insecurity. The Ombada Emergency Room in Omdurman, which coordinates community kitchens in the area, has warned that "the circle of need is expanding to include thousands of families and displaced people."
The situation is likely to worsen, with Mutawakil Ahmed Babiker, a bakery owner, stating that "most likely I will close the bakery" due to the high cost of flour and power cuts. The Sudanese government faces significant challenges in addressing the bread shortage and food insecurity, with many calling for urgent action to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.
Key points
- The bread shortage in Sudan is exacerbating food insecurity for 20 million people.
- The Sudanese pound has lost 25 percent of its value against the dollar over the past month.
- Poverty rates in Sudan have soared to 80 percent, with inflation registering 99 percent last year.
