Farming Amidst Chaos: Food Wasted in War-Torn Sudan
In Sudan's scenic Jebel Marra mountains, life appears vibrant and fruitful amid a catastrophic civil war. Farmers cultivate peanuts, apples, oranges, and strawberries, taking advantage of the area's fertile soil and Mediterranean-like climate. However, as fighting rages on for the past two and a half years, the rest of the nation faces one of its worst hunger crises, with nearly 25 million people experiencing severe food shortages, including over 600,000 in famine.
While crops flourish in Jebel Marra, the challenge lies not in production but in distribution. Farmers like Hafiz Ali, who sells oranges in Golo town, find their produce often rotting before it can reach market due to insecurity and poor road conditions.
The mountains of Jebel Marra are currently held by the Sudan Liberation Army-Abdulwahid (SLA-AW), which opts for neutrality during the ongoing conflict. Despite being a relatively peaceful area, the region’s isolation exacerbates food distribution issues as armies and militias block vital access routes. The local population struggles to connect with larger markets located in cities like el-Fasher, leading to a surplus in food that depresses prices.
Alternative markets springing up on the outskirts of SLA-AW territory provide limited opportunities, but these require dangerous and treacherous routes. While some trade continues under precarious circumstances, armed robbery and checkpoints manned by various militia forces further complicate trade efforts.
The social fabrics of these communities remain strained as thousands of displaced people find refuge in schools and other public spaces, receiving little humanitarian assistance due to checkpoint challenges that impede aid delivery.
As Jebel Marra navigates the dual realities of fertile farming and armed conflict, the heartfelt cry of local traders resonates: We’re not part of the war - we just want to sell our oranges. This poignant statement encapsulates the struggle of finding hope amid despair, revealing the complexities of human resilience in the face of calamity.
