Famine Declared in Two Sudanese Regions as Crisis Deepens

Famine is currently unfolding in el-Fasher, in Sudan’s Darfur region, and Kadugli, in South Kordofan province, with the risk of spreading to 20 other areas as the country’s ongoing conflict exacerbates a humanitarian catastrophe.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) announced today that the conditions in both locations meet the criteria for famine: deaths from malnutrition, widespread starvation, and acute malnutrition rates exceeding critical thresholds. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) besieged el-Fasher for 18 months, severely restricting access to food and supplies before seizing the city last week, reportedly resulting in hundreds of civilian deaths. Similarly, Kadugli has been under RSF siege for months. This escalating crisis threatens to destabilize the wider region and displace even more civilians.

According to the IPC report, approximately 375,000 people are already experiencing famine in Darfur and Kordofan, with an additional 6.3 million facing extreme levels of hunger. Doctors Without Borders reported yesterday that arriving refugees in Tawila, near el-Fasher, are exhibiting “catastrophic levels of malnutrition,” with 57% of children under five presenting with severe acute malnutrition. The war, which began in April 2023, has already displaced over 14 million people and driven the country toward collapse; you can find more information about the ongoing conflict here.

The IPC attributes the crisis to deliberate actions during the conflict, stating it is a “man-made emergency.” The organization is calling for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further loss of life and allow for increased humanitarian access. The United Nations estimates over 40,000 have been killed, though the actual number is likely much higher. For more on global hunger crises, visit the World Food Programme.

Officials say a ceasefire remains the only viable path to containing the extreme food insecurity and malnutrition levels across Sudan.