40% of Sudan’s population faces severe food crisis, FAO warns
At least 19.5 million people in Sudan were projected to face acute food insecurity at crisis level or worse, as the country’s prolonged conflict, drought and soaring food prices continue to disrupt food production and access. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in its Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) country brief dated September […]
A staggering 40% of Sudan's population - about 19.5 million people - are projected to face extreme food insecurity or worse, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This alarming level of crisis affects more than 40% of the country's population between February and May 2026, based on the FAO's Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) country brief.
The ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023, is the primary driver of Sudan's food crisis. It has disrupted livelihoods, damaged infrastructure, restricted humanitarian access, and displaced millions of people. By the end of July 2026, an estimated 8.6 million Sudanese were internally displaced.
The country's rainfall during the June-September rainy season fell below average, negatively impacting crop germination and establishment. Sennar and Gedaref, two key sorghum-producing states, saw rainfall deficits of 20% and 30% respectively, compared to long-term averages.
Insecurity has made it challenging for farmers to tend to their fields, particularly in Greater Darfur, Greater Kordofan, and Blue Nile State, where access to agricultural inputs like fuel is limited. The pressure from high fuel costs has further exacerbated the situation.
Sudan's cereal production for 2025 saw a significant drop of 22% compared to the previous year and 19% below the average of the past five years. The decline can largely be attributed to conflict-related disruptions, especially shortages and higher prices of agricultural inputs.
Despite the challenges, Sudan is expected to require about 2.8 million tonnes of cereal imports during the 2026 marketing year, primarily wheat. However, the country's financial and logistical constraints may hinder its ability to secure these supplies. The decline in production, coupled with trade disruptions and economic pressures, has pushed cereal prices sharply higher, with sorghum prices more than doubling on average in most monitored markets since January 2026.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
