SUDAN'S HUMANITARIAN CRISIS DEEPENS
Famine has been declared in the Darfur region of Sudan, marking a major escalation in that country's 15-month-long civil war. The famine has taken hold in the Zamzam camp, located near El Fasher, where approximately half a million displaced individuals are now suffering from a lack of food and aid. The crisis has been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has severely disrupted humanitarian relief efforts and devastated local infrastructure. The civil war has led to one of the world's largest hunger crises, with more than half of Sudan's 48 million people suffering from severe food insecurity. Once known for its fertile lands and agricultural productivity, the country has seen its agricultural sector collapse amid the violence, which has forcibly displaced over 10 million. Many of those people have fled to bordering countries, placing further strain on regional resources and stability.
Efforts to provide humanitarian aid, meanwhile, have been frustrated by blockades and restrictions imposed by the warring factions. The Sudanese military recently announced the reopening of the border crossing with Chad to allow UN aid trucks to pass, however, access remains limited, and aid organizations are struggling to deliver essential supplies. The paramilitary forces have halted food and medicine deliveries to the Zamzam camp, compounding the suffering of the displaced population. The ongoing violence and food shortages have the potential to destabilize the region further, possibly leading to increased refugee flows and regional conflicts. Additionally, the power vacuum and chaos in Sudan may provide opportunities for extremist groups to gain influence, threatening both regional and global security. (New York Times, August 1, 2024)
ECONOMIC COLLAPSE FUELS STARVATION IN YEMEN
A recent report by the UN's Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Technical Group has charted a rapid increase in acute malnutrition in a number of government-controlled regions in war-torn Yemen. According to the IPC, in areas like the Southern Hodeidah lowlands and the Al Makha district of the Taiz lowlands, acute malnutrition has risen by 34% from November 2023 to June 2024 due to a rapid increase in diseases like cholera and measles, inadequate drinking water, lack of nutritious foods, and general economic decline. As a result, the UN monitoring system estimates, between 120,000 and 600,000 of Yemen's children now face extreme malnutrition.
The worsening crisis is a direct consequence of the protracted conflict between the country's Saudi-backed government and the Iranian-aligned Houthi militia, which has led to the economic collapse of Yemen. The Houthis control most major urban centers, including the country's capital, Sanaa, while the Saudi-backed government is based in Aden in Yemen's south. The IPC report does not detail conditions in Houthi-held areas, but notes the situation is already catastrophic in government-controlled ones. (Reuters, August 18, 2024)
A LOOMING ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER IN THE RED SEA
After a recent attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels, the Greek oil tanker MV Delta Sounion is now stranded in the Red Sea – and a serious environmental threat looms. The crew of the ship, which was en route to Greece from Iraq, has been evacuated, but the vessel has been "immobilized" and is now leaking its cargo, setting up the potential for a significant incident. "The risk of an oil spill, posing an extremely serious environmental hazard, remains high and there is widespread concern about the damage such a spill would cause within the region," an official from the International Maritime Organization has confirmed. The incident raises concerns reminiscent of the FSO Safer, another tanker which was attacked in the Red Sea by the Houthis back in 2015. The FSO Safer's oil was eventually offloaded, but the situation currently – given ongoing tensions in the region and the risks of a wider war – is significantly more complex. (The Hill, August 28, 2024)
REINFORCING NORTHERN NATO ALLIES
In response to growing geopolitical tensions, the Pentagon has unveiled its 2024 National Strategy for the Arctic Region, which highlights growing collaboration between Russia and China in the Arctic, driven by Moscow's increasing reliance on Chinese investment to enable its Arctic energy infrastructure as a result of Western sanctions. The paper also emphasizes the strategic advantages of NATO's new members, Finland and Sweden, both of which are experienced in Arctic military operations.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks explained how NATO's expanded presence strengthens deterrence and cooperation in the Arctic. This is especially relevant as climate change makes Arctic routes more accessible and navigable, increasing geopolitical competition and giving rise to new security concerns. In response, the U.S., Canada, and Finland are launching the ICE Pact, a collaborative effort combining the strengths of the U.S.’ industrial resources and budget with Canada and Finland's ice-breaking technology to develop new ships. The initiative aims to enhance NATO's strategic position in the Arctic and address emerging challenges in the region. (Breaking Defense, July 22, 2024)