Sudan's food crisis is deepening, with millions of people surviving on just one meal a day, according to a report published by a coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The report from Action Against Hunger, CARE International, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, and the Norwegian Refugee Council states that the war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), entering its third year, has caused widespread hunger and displaced millions amid one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.
The report highlights that nearly three years of conflict, marked by violence, displacement, and siege tactics, have systematically eroded Sudan's food system, leading to mass hunger. In the worst-hit states of North Darfur and South Kordofan, millions of families can only access one meal a day, often missing meals for entire days. Many have resorted to eating leaves and animal feed to survive, as communal kitchens struggle to stretch dwindling resources.
The crisis is compounded by a worsening economic situation and climate change. The war erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the RSF, unleashing violence that has resulted in one of the world's worst man-made humanitarian disasters: over 12 million people have been forced from their homes, and more than 33 million require humanitarian aid. The United Nations reports over 40,000 deaths in the past three years, with aid groups warning the actual toll could be much higher.
According to the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, 61.7% of Sudan's population—28.9 million people—is facing acute food shortages. The army-aligned Sudanese government denies the existence of famine, while the RSF denies responsibility for such conditions in areas under its control. The UN has documented widespread atrocities and ethnically charged violence, with the global hunger monitor confirming famine conditions in el-Fasher and Kadugli for the first time in November.
In February, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification found that famine thresholds for acute malnutrition have been exceeded in Um Baru, where the rate of acutely malnourished children under five was nearly double the famine threshold, and in Kernoi. The report, based on interviews with farmers, traders, and humanitarian actors in Sudan, details how the war is driving communities toward famine due to disruptions to farming and the use of starvation as a weapon of war, including deliberate destruction of farms and markets.
Women and girls have been disproportionately affected, facing high risks of rape and harassment when accessing fields, markets, or water sources. Female-headed households are three times more likely to experience food shortages than male-headed households. This situation poses a severe threat to Sudan's future, exacerbating a humanitarian catastrophe that shows no signs of abating amid ongoing conflict and international neglect.
Source: www.aljazeera.com