Sudanese Below the Poverty Line: War Exacerbates Hunger and Suffering

Sudanhorizon – Nazik Shamam

“I’ve gone down from the middle class to the poor bottom class,” says Abdullah Ibrahim, describing his situation after the war. Ibrahim used to own a shop in the Arab Market in central Khartoum, selling used spare parts. His income was sufficient for his immediate and extended family, and he even had some savings set aside for emergencies. However, after the war, and after his shop was looted and his house ransacked, he was rendered unemployed. Over time, his savings dwindled due to the rising cost of living in the states, until he was forced to live in a camp.

Thousands of families, after two and a half years of war waged by the Rapid Support Forces militia against the Sudanese people, have found themselves in the same situation as Ibrahim. Their standard of living has plummeted, and they find themselves without work, housing, or savings. Securing their daily sustenance has become a constant worry.

Poverty Rate:

Although the poverty rate in Sudan has always been a source of controversy as compared to the country’s vast potentials and resources, it remains among the highest, with its accuracy being questioned.

Last Saturday, Sudanese Minister of Human Resources and Social Welfare, Mutasim Ahmed Saleh, has revealed that the poverty rate in the country had spread from 21% to 71%, according to official reports. This has been caused by the ongoing war. He stated that approximately 23 million Sudanese people are living below the poverty line.

The minister affirmed that the government, despite the difficult economic circumstances, is working to reduce poverty rates by implementing productive projects and creating new job opportunities that contribute to improving livelihoods.

Social Responsibility:

The minister emphasized the importance of directly investing social responsibility funds in productive and service projects that impact citizens’ lives. This, he explained, would contribute to alleviating poverty and unemployment and transitioning from relief efforts to recovery and sustainable development. He also stressed the need to strengthen social security partnerships between the public and private sectors.

Saleh pointed out that a large number of people have lost their sources of income due to the war, necessitating the activation of microfinance projects as a tool to support local production. He noted that steps are underway to facilitate financing terms and guarantees in coordination with the Central Bank of Sudan. The minister added that the government is working to increase funding ceilings and amend existing regulations to enable people to easily access the necessary financing for their productive projects. He emphasized that supporting productive families and small businesses is a key component of the government’s plan to address the economic and social impacts of the war.

Inaccurate Figures:

For his part, economist Dr. Omar Mahjoub believes that the poverty rates in Sudan cited by the Minister of Human Resources and Social Welfare are inaccurate.

In a statement to Sudanhorizon, Mahjoub argued that there are shortcomings in income and consumption reports related to living expenses. He pointed out that many families who rely on remittances from relatives outside Sudan are not included in poverty figures, and their numbers have increased since the outbreak of the war.

Mahjoub added that the figures in the reports could be used with an additional 5% to 8%.

He explained that the poverty line standard set by the World Bank for low-income countries, which is $3 a day, is difficult for many Sudanese to achieve, thus increasing doubts about the accuracy of the announced figures. He stressed that combating poverty requires years of hard work and the implementation of strategic plans, noting the importance of achieving sustainable economic growth, increasing investment to create new job opportunities, developing infrastructure, and developing human capital. He emphasized the role of government food subsidies, implementing fair tax policies, and reducing arbitrary fees that negatively impact low-income earners.

He called for supporting productive families by promoting microfinance and ensuring the participation of the Zakat Chamber and charitable organizations in providing the necessary guarantees for this financing. He also stressed the importance of securing free education and healthcare as a fundamental part of the poverty reduction strategy.

The experts concluded by emphasizing the need to activate the role of the Zakat Chamber and develop modern technological methods to identify those in need and collect Zakat effectively.

The Edge of Poverty:

For his part, economic journalist Abdul Wahab Jumaa says that the war in Sudan has pushed two-thirds of the population to the brink of poverty, considering the figure of 71% of Sudanese living in poverty to accurately reflect the current reality. In his interview with Sudanhorizon, he cited UN statistics as indicating that 20 million Sudanese are in urgent need of assistance, in addition to 10 million refugees outside the country.

Jumaa emphasized that the war has not only caused deaths and displacement but has also led to loss of savings by almost all Sudanese losing their savings, making it difficult for those who remain inside the country to cover their daily needs.

He explained that it is currently difficult for the government to rely on programs to lift people out of poverty, noting the need to focus on preventing more people from falling into poverty and providing assistance to those already trapped in it.

He stressed the importance of mobilizing domestic resources in light of the lack of foreign investment and suggested opening up microfinance, especially for women, as an effective mechanism to alleviate poverty.

He called on the government to take measures to ease the burden on citizens, such as reducing customs duties on essential products like fertilizers, improved seeds, solar energy, and easing taxes for small traders and those working in commerce to stimulate the economy. He urged for the development of short-term emergency programs targeting specific sectors of society for a period of three months to stimulate the local economy, stressing that these programs should focus on restoring what people have lost to prevent further deterioration and slipping into poverty.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=8645