Joint News Release WFP/FAO/UNICEF: Risk of Famine persists as nearly 19.5 million people face acute food insecurity in Sudan

Country: Sudan Source: World Food Programme Conflict, displacement and restricted humanitarian access leave more than 825,000 children at risk of death from severe malnutrition in 2026 ROME/NEW YORK/PORT SUDAN, 15 May 2026 – The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF warned today that nearly 19.5 million people – two out of every five people in Sudan - are currently facing crisis levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) across Sudan, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis. Although the latest IPC analysis did not identify areas currently experiencing Famine (IPC Phase 5), conditions remain extremely concerning. The analysis shows that nearly 135,000 people are facing Catastrophic food insecurity (IPC Phase 5) across 14 hotspots in Darfur, South Darfur, and South Kordofan are at risk of famine in the coming months. More than five million people are classified under IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and a further 14 million people are in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis). Conditions are expected to deteriorate further during the lean season between June and September. As the civil conflict enters its fourth year, the protracted hunger crisis in Sudan shows little sign of abating as violence, displacement and severe humanitarian access constraints are impacting children, families and communities across the country. Sudan is also facing a severe nutrition crisis. An estimated 825,000 children under five are expected to suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in 2026, a seven percent increase compared to 2025 and 25 percent higher than pre-conflict levels recorded between 2021 and 2023. Between January and March this year alone, almost 100,000 children were admitted for treatment for severe acute malnutrition – which can lead to deaths if no...

Original source: Relief Web