The ongoing conflict in Sudan has taken a harrowing toll on the nation’s food security, according to a new report released by a coalition of humanitarian organizations. The report, compiled by Action Against Hunger, CARE International, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, and Norwegian Refugee Council, paints a stark picture of communities pushed to the brink of famine as the war disrupts the critical journey of food from farms to markets to homes.
The report details how three years of conflict and the flagrant disregard for International Humanitarian Law have transformed the process of obtaining food into a perilous endeavor. In areas like North Darfur and South Kordofan, millions of people are surviving on a single meal or less per day. Desperation has driven families to forgo meals, cut portions, and even consume leaves and animal feed, which are not typically considered edible.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has already declared famine in certain parts of Sudan, with the risk of the crisis spreading to other areas. Over 28.9 million Sudanese, more than half of the population, are now acutely food insecure, with over 10 million facing severe or extreme hunger. The economic collapse and the impact of climate shocks have exacerbated the situation.
Humanitarian organizations have documented widespread violations of international humanitarian law, including the use of starvation as a weapon of war and targeted attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. The relentless violence, displacement, and siege tactics have systematically destroyed Sudan’s food system, leaving farms in ruins, farmers killed, and markets disrupted by attacks and closures.
Women and girls have been disproportionately affected, facing increased risks of sexual and gender — based violence, which further limits their access to food and essential services. Despite these challenges, local food systems are struggling to maintain their function under extreme pressure. Farmers, traders, and community networks are working tirelessly to produce and move food, but their efforts are strained and unable to meet the scale of the crisis.
The report, which is based on extensive research including 80 key informant interviews and 40 focus group discussions, calls on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease actions that drive hunger and violate international humanitarian law. It emphasizes the urgent need to protect Sudan’s food system, ensure safe movement of people and goods, and support local markets and food production. Without immediate and sustained intervention, the food crisis in Sudan will deepen, with devastating consequences for millions of people.
Source: reliefweb
Original author: Action contre la Faim France
