Sudan is grappling with its most severe food insecurity crisis on record, with over 25.6 million people experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, according to the latest IPC Acute Food Insecurity Snapshot from April 2024 to February 2025. The situation has rapidly deteriorated since December 2023, marking a 45% increase in the number of affected individuals, including 755,000 people in catastrophic conditions.
During the lean season from June to September 2024, over half of Sudan’s population is categorized under IPC Phase 3 or higher, denoting Crisis or worse conditions. This includes areas like Greater Darfur, South and North Kordofan, Blue Nile, Al Jazirah, and Khartoum, where 755,000 people are in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). An additional 8.5 million people face Emergency (IPC Phase 4).
The risk of Famine looms over 14 areas, primarily affecting localities and clusters of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees in Greater Darfur, Greater Kordofan, Al Jazirah states, and hotspots in Khartoum. This threat is exacerbated by ongoing conflict and restrictions on humanitarian access, hindering farming and livelihood activities crucial for food security.
While some improvement is expected during the harvest season from October 2024 to February 2025 due to local food production and stabilized prices, an estimated 21.1 million people will still face acute food insecurity. Approximately 6.4 million will be in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), and nearly 109,000 in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5), with seven areas at risk of Famine.
The conflict in Sudan has not only displaced millions and disrupted supply chains and markets but has also severely restricted access to humanitarian aid, exacerbating an already dire situation. Reports indicate widespread dysfunction in health services, water contamination, and poor sanitation, increasing the prevalence of water-borne diseases and acute malnutrition, particularly among children and vulnerable populations.
Populations trapped in conflict zones, notably in Greater Darfur, Greater Kordofan, Khartoum, and Al Jazirah states, face critical conditions exacerbated by insecurity and lack of protection. IDPs and refugees, heavily reliant on humanitarian aid, are particularly vulnerable, with many experiencing critical or catastrophic food insecurity levels.
In response, informal safety nets, remittances, and local response systems have played crucial roles in mitigating further deterioration in food security, especially in areas where humanitarian assistance is limited. However, the sustainability of these measures remains uncertain as food stocks dwindle and supply chains falter in conflict-affected regions.
Related Topics:
