Nearly 20 Million People Face Acute Hunger in Sudan as UN Agencies Warn of Worsening Humanitarian Catastrophe

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and UNICEF have issued a grave warning over Sudan’s rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis, revealing that nearly 19.5 million people — roughly two out of every five people in the country — are currently facing crisis levels of acute food insecurity.

The agencies warned that ongoing conflict, displacement, collapsing public services, and severe humanitarian access restrictions are pushing millions closer to starvation as Sudan’s civil war enters its fourth year.

According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, hunger conditions across Sudan remain extremely alarming, with fears that famine could emerge in several hotspots in the coming months if urgent international action is not taken.

Millions Facing Severe Hunger Across Sudan

The IPC analysis found that nearly 19.5 million people are currently experiencing IPC Phase 3 or worse, meaning they are facing acute food insecurity at crisis, emergency, or catastrophic levels.

Among them:

• More than 14 million people are classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis)

• Over 5 million people are in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency)

• Nearly 135,000 people are facing IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophic food insecurity)

The IPC’s Phase 5 category represents the most severe level of hunger and indicates conditions where starvation, death, and extreme deprivation are occurring or imminent.

Although the latest assessment did not formally declare famine conditions, the agencies warned that several regions remain at extremely high risk.

Darfur and South Kordofan at Risk of Famine

The report identified 14 hunger hotspots across Darfur, South Darfur, and South Kordofan where famine could develop in the coming months if conditions continue worsening.

The agencies noted that the situation is expected to deteriorate further during Sudan’s lean season between June and September, when food supplies traditionally become scarcer and prices rise sharply.

Ongoing violence and insecurity continue to block humanitarian aid deliveries and prevent agricultural production, worsening food shortages in already devastated communities.

Severe Malnutrition Crisis Threatens Children

Sudan is also experiencing a worsening nutrition emergency, particularly among young children.

According to the agencies:

• Around 825,000 children under five are expected to suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in 2026

• This represents a 7 percent increase compared to 2025

• Malnutrition levels are now 25 percent higher than pre-conflict averages recorded between 2021 and 2023

Between January and March 2026 alone, nearly 100,000 children were admitted for treatment for severe acute malnutrition.

Health experts warn that severe acute malnutrition can quickly become fatal without urgent medical intervention and therapeutic feeding support.

UNICEF reported that many malnourished children arriving at health centres are too weak even to cry.

Critical Malnutrition Levels in Several Areas

The report highlighted particularly severe conditions in Um Baru and Kernoi localities, where critical levels of acute malnutrition were recorded in late 2025.

The agencies warned that malnutrition levels are expected to remain dangerously high in these areas, especially among:

• Internally displaced populations

• Families trapped in besieged areas

• Communities with limited humanitarian access

Additional regions are also at risk of rapid deterioration as conflict and displacement continue spreading.

Massive Displacement Deepens the Crisis

Conflict-driven displacement in Sudan remains among the highest in the world.

As of the end of March 2026:

• Nearly 9 million people had been displaced within Sudan

Many families have fled multiple times, often moving between conflict zones with little access to food, healthcare, shelter, or basic services.

The agencies warned that many displaced communities are now living in isolated or inaccessible areas where humanitarian agencies face enormous difficulties delivering assistance.

Collapse of Infrastructure and Essential Services

The war has devastated Sudan’s civilian infrastructure, severely undermining access to food, water, healthcare, and sanitation.

According to the report:

• Around 40 percent of health facilities are no longer functioning

• Approximately 17 million people lack access to safe drinking water

• About 24 million people lack adequate sanitation services

Markets, agricultural systems, water networks, and health centres have been heavily damaged or destroyed during the conflict.

The destruction of agricultural assets has also sharply reduced local food production, increasing dependence on humanitarian assistance.

Disease Outbreaks Worsening Malnutrition

Repeated outbreaks of infectious diseases are further intensifying the humanitarian crisis.

The agencies reported rising outbreaks of:

• Cholera

• Measles

• Malaria

• Dengue fever

• Hepatitis

• Diphtheria

• Diarrheal diseases

These diseases are accelerating nutritional deterioration, particularly among:

• Young children

• Pregnant women

• Breastfeeding mothers

Health officials warned that weak healthcare systems and poor sanitation are creating conditions for further disease spread.

Humanitarian Access Severely Restricted

UN agencies described humanitarian access constraints in Sudan as among the worst in the world.

Aid operations continue to face:

• Insecurity and active fighting

• Bureaucratic restrictions

• Attacks on supply routes

• Destruction of transport infrastructure

• Restrictions on movement of people and goods

These challenges are preventing humanitarian organizations from reaching populations most in need and delivering aid at the necessary scale.

Funding Crisis Limiting Humanitarian Response

The agencies also warned that humanitarian funding remains critically inadequate compared to the scale of the crisis.

As of April 2026:

• Only 20 percent of Sudan’s 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan had been funded

Between February and May, humanitarian organizations aimed to assist 4.8 million people each month, but only around 3.13 million people received aid in February.

Aid agencies say the shortfall is severely limiting their ability to provide emergency food, healthcare, nutrition treatment, clean water, and agricultural support.

UN Agencies Call for Immediate Global Action

FAO, WFP, and UNICEF jointly called for urgent international action to prevent further loss of life and avert a wider famine catastrophe.

The agencies urged:

• An immediate cessation of hostilities

• Protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure

• Safe and unrestricted humanitarian access

• Increased funding for humanitarian operations

• Expanded support for food production and livelihoods

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu stressed the importance of supporting local agriculture to restore food access.

“To prevent further loss of life and starvation, we must urgently scale up emergency agricultural assistance to boost local food production,” he said.

WFP and UNICEF Warn of Growing Tragedy

WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain warned that famine continues to threaten millions of Sudanese people.

“WFP has been on the ground responding and is ready to do more, but humanitarian agencies cannot solve this alone,” McCain said.

She called on the international community to urgently provide funding, humanitarian access, and political support to prevent the crisis from becoming even more catastrophic.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the devastating impact on children.

“Across Sudan, children are trapped in a crisis of relentless violence, hunger and disease,” she said.

“Without urgent action and sustained humanitarian access, more children will die.”

One of the World’s Worst Humanitarian Emergencies

The UN agencies warned that Sudan is rapidly becoming one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies.

With conflict continuing, humanitarian access restricted, and millions already facing extreme hunger, international organizations say immediate global action is essential to prevent widespread famine and further loss of life.

The agencies stressed that without significantly increased humanitarian assistance and political efforts to end the conflict, Sudan’s food security and health crisis could worsen dramatically in the months ahead.