Sudan's famine risk worsens amid conflict, drought and funding shortages, IPC says

A global food crisis monitor said Monday that conflict and drought are deepening food insecurity across parts of Sudan's Darfur and Kordofan regions. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, described a deteriorating humanitarian situation across greater Darfur and Kordofan, including areas it has flagged as at risk of famine. Severe drought tied to El Niño is affecting more than half of Sudan, causing localized crop failures and depriving households of food and income.

As of May, nearly 19.5 million people — more than 40% of Sudan's population — were facing high levels of acute food insecurity, according to an IPC assessment. About 135,000 of them were in Phase 5, the most severe classification, which is characterized by extreme food shortages, starvation, very high malnutrition and deaths from disease or acute malnutrition.

Sudan's war began in April 2023, when tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces escalated into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, before spreading across the country. The conflict has killed at least 150,000 people, according to the conflict monitor ACLED, though aid groups say the true toll is likely higher. The fighting has displaced about 13 million people and pushed parts of Sudan into famine.

The IPC also highlighted agricultural strain, saying poor vegetation growth affects 64% of croplands in North Darfur and about half in South Darfur, West Kordofan and South Kordofan. Severe water deficits and limited opportunity for agricultural recovery are threatening livelihoods, and farmers are increasingly relying on markets and assistance rather than their own production, the monitor said.

Malnutrition is worsening in additional areas, according to the IPC. In Nyala, the share of children admitted for severe acute malnutrition at nutrition services doubled from roughly 5% to 11% between January and August. Two displacement camps in South Darfur recorded global acute malnutrition above famine thresholds. In North Darfur, delayed rains hurt crop cultivation and critically low food stocks worsened food insecurity, while Western Kordofan is experiencing one of its worst droughts since 2004, the IPC said, citing rainfall levels.

The IPC warned that without a quick and significant increase in assistance, food insecurity, acute malnutrition and excess mortality will likely intensify. Its warning reflects funding shortages that the report says are compounding the crisis, as the war continues to disrupt farming and humanitarian operations.