Sudan's Hunger Does Not Need a Famine Label

Sudan's hunger crisis, while not officially classified as famine, remains severe. Bakers in Omdurman and the Khartoum area report reduced profits due to buyers receiving only half the bread they once received. Flour mills are blamed for ignoring price controls, despite intervention by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Fuel shortages have further hampered transportation efforts.

Despite el-Fasher having been in the hands of the Sudan Liberation Movement since October 2025, hunger in this area is not due to a siege but rather an economy dominated by expensive inputs, limited fuel, and weak enforcement. The IPC, a UN-backed hunger monitor, has not listed any areas as famine as of May 2026. However, it still identifies about 135,000 people as being in Catastrophe and 14 hotspots across Darfur and South Kordofan at risk of famine.

A full analysis is hindered by a lack of survey data and access. Sudan claims its reserves will suffice, yet it disputes figures of 19.5 million people in acute food insecurity, approximately 41% of the population, and a potential 825,000 children facing severe acute malnutrition. Attacks on healthcare facilities are confirmed by WHO, with 213 incidents and 2,036 deaths reported by March of this year.

Both the RSF and the army have been accused of such attacks. The World Food Programme is reducing emergency assistance to 800,000 people, cutting rations for most recipients, and noting that less than half of this year's appeal is funded. A three-month humanitarian truce followed by a political process, backed by the US, has been accepted by the RSF, while the army seeks conditions. The practical issues lie in the delivery of food and the accuracy of reported hunger figures.