Sudan faces rising famine risk due to conflict and drought

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has warned of a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, specifically within the Darfur and Kordofan regions. Conflict between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023, combined with severe El Niño-linked droughts, is driving extreme food insecurity.

As of May 2026, approximately 19.5 million people—over 40% of the population—faced high levels of acute food insecurity. Among them, 135,000 individuals were classified in Phase 5, the most severe category characterized by starvation and extreme malnutrition. Famine was previously confirmed in the cities of El Fasher and Kadugli in November 2025, and monitors indicate the risk is growing again.

The ongoing war has displaced roughly 13 million people and resulted in at least 59,000 deaths, according to ACLED. Agricultural productivity has been severely impacted, with poor growth affecting up to 64% of croplands in North Darfur. While the UN requested US$2.9 billion for 2026 humanitarian aid, less than half of that funding has been received.