Sudan's takaaya community kitchens collapsing as population starves

Sudan's community kitchens, known as takaaya, are on the verge of collapse due to the ongoing war that began in April 2023. These kitchens have been a vital source of food for the famine-stricken population, but are now threatened by international neglect, supply shortages, and volunteer exhaustion. A significant factor is the severe restriction of US funding for the Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) that operate many of the kitchens. A new report from Islamic Relief found that 83 percent of Sudanese families lack sufficient food, and many kitchens have had to shut down or reduce meals. These local structures are often the only source of aid in dangerous areas inaccessible to international agencies, such as the RSF-controlled city of el-Fasher.