KHARTOUM — Sudan is facing a growing risk of famine as severe drought linked to the El Niño climate pattern compounds the effects of a civil war that has devastated communities, disrupted agriculture and displaced millions of people. The deteriorating conditions threaten food production in a country already struggling with widespread hunger. According to Reuters, rainfall during the July–September 2026 rainy season was the lowest in more than three decades across Sudan, leaving farmers with damaged crops and weakening livestock.
The United Nations-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned in October that famine risks were increasing in conflict-affected parts of the country, particularly in Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan.
The crisis follows years of fighting that began in 2023 and has disrupted farming, trade and humanitarian operations. In areas affected by conflict and displacement, many families have struggled to access food, clean water and basic services.
In June, approximately 5.1 million people in Sudan were facing severe hunger, according to figures cited by Reuters. Humanitarian officials warn that the situation could deteriorate further as drought reduces harvests and food supplies.
The United Nations World Food Programme has forecast that an additional 350,000 people could experience severe hunger by the end of 2026. The number could rise by a further 1.2 million by August 2027, according to projections shared with Reuters. The outlook is particularly concerning in Darfur and Kordofan, where conflict has damaged livelihoods and made humanitarian assistance difficult to deliver.
Farmers have reported shrivelled crops, deteriorating pasture and increasingly weak livestock. The loss of harvests threatens both household food supplies and the incomes of communities that depend on agriculture.
El Niño-related weather conditions have brought unusually high temperatures and insufficient rainfall to parts of Sudan. The drought has placed additional pressure on rain-fed farming, which is essential to food production in several regions. The combination of climate stress and armed conflict creates a dangerous cycle: reduced harvests leave fewer food supplies available, while insecurity and displacement prevent many people from rebuilding their livelihoods.
Humanitarian agencies are also dealing with funding shortages that have forced reductions in food assistance in some areas. These cuts risk leaving vulnerable families with even less support as food insecurity worsens.
Aid agencies have warned that the overlap of declining agricultural production, continued conflict and limited humanitarian funding could lead to a further deterioration in living conditions. Expanding access for relief workers, restoring food supplies and providing emergency assistance to affected communities will be critical to preventing more people from falling into extreme hunger.
With the next harvest season approaching under difficult conditions, Sudan’s food crisis remains a major humanitarian concern. Without adequate assistance and improved access to affected areas, drought could deepen an emergency already driven by years of war.
