Millions of people in Sudan remain isolated and face catastrophic hunger as the conflict continues into its third year, according to the World Food Programme (WFP). The UN agency stated that while famine has taken hold in parts of the country, hunger is receding in areas where consistent access has been achieved.
In a statement released today, the WFP emphasized that progress in combating famine remains fragile. “Millions remain cut off by the conflict and are facing catastrophic hunger,” the organization warned.
The ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has left an estimated 21 million people facing severe food insecurity across Sudan. The humanitarian crisis is deepening as the fighting continues, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of approximately 13 million people, according to international data.
The RSF gained control of El Fasher last October, a city it had been besieging since May 2024. The situation in the city has deteriorated significantly, with tens of thousands displaced due to escalating insecurity and alleged serious violations.
Recent weeks have seen intense clashes between the SAF and RSF in the three states of the Kordofan region (North, West, and South), leading to the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians. Of Sudan’s 18 states, the RSF controls all five states of the Darfur region in the west, with the exception of some northern parts of North Darfur, which remain under SAF control. The SAF controls most of the remaining 13 states, including the capital, Khartoum.
The WFP is calling for urgent and sustained access to all areas of Sudan to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation and to provide life-saving assistance to those in need.
