HAMILTON, Canada

The UN said Wednesday that it is "seeking clarification" from Sudanese authorities after the government expelled two senior World Food Program (WFP) officials without explanation.

"You saw the reports from Sudan that two of our colleagues from the World Food Program have been designated as persona non grata by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and were asked to leave the country within 72 hours, without any official explanation," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters at a news conference.

Noting that "the decision to expel the World Food Program's country director and its emergency director comes at a pivotal time," Dujarric said: "To state the obvious, humanitarian needs in Sudan have never been greater, with more than 24 million people facing acute insecurity and communities impacted by famine."

He also stated that the "WFP and senior UN officials are engaging with authorities to protest this action, and we're seeking clarification for the decision taken by all parties."

He emphasized that Sudan "must prioritize the lives and well-being of millions of people who depend on emergency food and nutrition assistance for their survival."

Dujarric expressed the WFP and UN's unwavering commitment to ensuring that Sudanese people have access to vital assistance, adding that the situation in Sudan is "unprecedented hunger, unprecedented insecurity, and unprecedented humanitarian needs."

His remarks came a day after Sudan declared two WFP officials persona non grata and ordered them to leave the country within 72 hours.

While Sudan's Foreign Ministry did not provide a reason, it did state that the decision "does not affect ongoing cooperation with the WFP in Sudan."

The announcement came amid intense clashes in El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur in western Sudan, between the Sudanese army forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which recently claimed control of the city.

Since April 15, 2023, the army and the RSF have been locked in a war that numerous regional and international mediations have failed to end. The conflict has killed thousands of people and displaced over 15 million.