Sudan is grappling with a severe and escalating famine crisis, driven by a prolonged civil war that has left millions at risk of starvation. According to food security experts, the country is experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, with 24.6 million people—nearly half of the population—urgently in need of food assistance.
The famine has spread to five key regions, including Darfur and South Kordofan, where the effects of the ongoing conflict have decimated agriculture and food supply chains. The civil war, which erupted after a power struggle between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in 2023, has severely disrupted the country’s infrastructure, plunging millions into food insecurity.
The United Nations’ Famine Review Committee (FRC), which tracks the progression of famine, has warned of a “greater catastrophe” if peace efforts fail. Despite ongoing mediation attempts, the fighting between the army and RSF has intensified, making any resolution appear unlikely shortly.
The FRC has highlighted that famine conditions were first reported in August at the Zamzam camp in Darfur, home to around 500,000 displaced people. Now, the crisis has extended to other regions, including the Abu Shouk and al-Salam camps in Darfur and areas of South Kordofan state. The committee describes famine not only as a shortage of food but as the collapse of essential systems such as healthcare, livelihoods, and social infrastructure, leaving entire communities in despair.
In a move that has escalated tensions, Sudan’s military-backed government announced this week that it would suspend cooperation with the FRC, accusing the group of releasing biased reports that undermine the country’s sovereignty. The suspension came after the FRC’s report revealed the full scale of the famine and its spread across multiple regions.
The situation in Sudan is worsening rapidly. The FRC warns that additional areas in Darfur could face famine by May, with the potential for the crisis to expand to 17 other regions. Violence and instability have hindered farming efforts, as farmers abandon their fields, and armed groups loot food supplies.
Both Darfur and South Kordofan have seen some of the worst violence, with civilians targeted by armed groups. Thousands have been killed, abducted, or raped as the conflict rages on. The US Special Envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, estimated in May that as many as 150,000 people may have already died as a result of the war.
With no resolution in sight, Sudan’s worsening famine is set to become one of the most dire humanitarian crises in the world today.
