The Conflict in Sudan, Which Erupted in 2023, Has Had a Devastating Impact on the Nation’s Food Security and Agricultural Livelihoods.
As the 2026 planting season approaches, the urgency to address the crisis grows, with millions of lives hanging in the balance. Millions of Sudanese are caught in a relentless cycle of hunger, with the country’s food insecurity soaring. Over the past three years, the percentage of the population facing acute food insecurity has oscillated between nearly half and over half.
In dire situations, Famine has been confirmed in areas like El Fasher in North Darfur and Kadugli in South Kordofan.
An additional 20 areas across Darfur and Kordofan are at immediate risk of Famine due to limited access. Children are not immune to the crisis; over 4. 2 million children under five are acutely malnourished, including 800,000 facing severe malnutrition.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is stepping up its efforts to provide emergency agriculture assistance, aiming to ensure that farmers do not miss the crucial 2026 planting season.
The humanitarian sector is addressing funding shortfalls, leaving Sudan at a critical crossroads. Hunger levels have surged, needs have continued to rise, yet humanitarian funding has dwindled.
The 2026 Sudan Humanitarian and Needs Response Plan, which calls for $2. 9 billion, including approximately $645 million for food security and livelihood assistance to reach 11. 4 million people, has seen a sharp reduction from the 2025 plan, which requested $4.
1 billion.
As of April 2026, the 2026 plan is only 16. 2 percent funded.
The FAO has initiated its Emergency and Resilience Plan 2026–2028 to address immediate needs while supporting long-term recovery and resilience.
However, with only $5 million contributed by the Government of Italy to date, the situation remains dire. National crop production is under immense pressure due to conflict, displacement, and the impacts of economic and climate shocks. FAO estimates cereal production for the 2025/26 season at 5.
2 million tonnes, a 22-percent decline compared to 2024 and 19 percent below the five-year average. Emergency agricultural support is crucial to prevent farmers from missing the critical planting window, resulting in reduced harvests and increased vulnerabilities.
The livestock sector, which is a lifeline for rural communities, has also suffered significant damage and losses. With an estimated 115 million head of cattle, sheep, goats, and camels, the sector has faced reduced vaccination coverage, increased disease outbreaks, herd depletion, and access constraints.
The FAO has vaccinated 7. 3 million animals nationwide, benefiting 530,000 households (2. 6 million people).
However, with only approximately 6 percent of the national herd reached, the efforts have so far only scratched the surface of what is needed.
As the world grapples with multiple crises, the suffering of Sudan’s people must not be overlooked. Humanitarian funding is shrinking, yet the drivers of the world’s largest food security crisis persist. Restoring and sustaining agricultural production remains one of the strongest defenses against hunger and malnutrition.
Emergency agricultural assistance is not only cost — effective and impactful but also what affected communities are calling for: the means to meet their own needs, remain in their homes where possible, and shape their own recovery.
The FAO plans to reach 7. 5 million people with time-critical assistance across Sudan between March and December 2026.
The Organization urgently seeks $75 million to bolster food production, protect livestock, and help the agriculture sector recover before conflict erases the gains sown by generations.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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By This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: reliefweb
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
