Sudan Food Crisis Deepens: Millions Survive on One Meal Daily

Sudan’s Food Crisis Deepens

A recent report by Action Against Hunger, CARE International, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, and the Norwegian Refugee Council highlights the worsening food crisis in Sudan. The conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has led to widespread hunger and displacement of millions.

In North Darfur and South Kordofan, two regions most affected by the conflict, families can only access one meal a day. Many people are missing entire days of meals, resorting to eating leaves and animal feed for survival.

The Sudanese government denies famine existence, while the Rapid Support Forces deny responsibility for conditions in areas under their control. According to the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, 61.7% (28.9 million) of Sudan’s population is acutely food-insecure.

The United Nations has reported widespread atrocities and ethnically charged violence. In November, the global hunger monitor confirmed famine conditions in al-Fashir and Kadugli. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification found that famine thresholds for acute malnutrition have been surpassed in Um Baru and Kernoi.

The report details how the war is driving communities towards famine due to disruptions in farming and the use of starvation as a weapon of war, including deliberate destruction of farms and markets. Communal kitchens are struggling to meet rising needs, while major donor funding cuts hinder aid agencies’ response efforts. Women and girls face high risks of rape and harassment during daily activities, exacerbating food insecurity. Female-headed households are three times more likely to experience food insecurity than male-headed ones.