Key facts
- El Niño-induced drought is compounding dire conditions in Sudan.
- Rainfall in July-September was the lowest in over three decades.
- The WFP needs an extra $134 million to tackle drought-induced hunger.
- Hunger, rather than war, is now driving displacement, according to aid workers.
Farmers across Sudan are facing a new threat of famine due to an El Niño-driven drought, compounding the effects of a civil war that began in 2023. The drought is causing parched conditions that are severely impacting crops and livestock, particularly in the southern regions where much of the country's food is produced.
The United Nations-backed IPC issued an alert on October 12, stating that the risk of famine is growing in many conflict-affected areas. Rainfall during the peak season from July to September was the lowest in over three decades across the country, with some areas experiencing the driest conditions since the 1980s.
The UN World Food Programme forecasts a significant increase in severe hunger, with an additional 350,000 people expected to be affected by the end of 2026, rising to 1.2 million more by August 2027. The WFP has been forced to cut rations due to limited resources and requires an additional $134 million to address the drought-induced hunger crisis.
Aid workers report that hunger, rather than direct conflict, is now the primary driver of displacement, as people leave their homes in search of food. While the Sudanese government has downplayed the severity of the threat to food supplies, humanitarian agencies continue to highlight the dire situation.