Sudan: Drought and war push Darfur and Kordofan towards famine

SUDAN, 13 OCTOBER 2026 —

Sudan’s War-Torn Regions Edge Closer to Famine as Drought and Conflict Deepen Crisis, UN Warns

With acute malnutrition rates soaring and aid operations crippled by funding shortages, insecurity, and restricted access, the IPC’s latest alert paints a grim picture of a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in one of the world’s most volatile conflict zones.

The crisis is unfolding against a backdrop of Sudan’s devastating civil war, which has displaced millions and left vast swathes of the country dependent on external assistance. The IPC, a global partnership including the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has found that malnutrition is worsening at an alarming rate, with aid efforts struggling to keep pace.

The situation is particularly acute in Eastern Jebel Marra, South Darfur, where surveys of displaced populations revealed acute malnutrition rates of 38% and 30.8% in two camps—both figures exceeding the famine threshold. Death rates in these areas are also rising, compounding the suffering of a population already devastated by years of conflict.

Across Greater Darfur, 13 out of 17 nutrition surveys conducted since January have detected critical levels of acute malnutrition, signaling a rapid deterioration in food security. In Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, the proportion of children requiring treatment for severe acute malnutrition more than doubled between January and August, surging from 5% to 11%.

The drought, now affecting over half of Sudan, has devastated agricultural output, with 64% of cropland in North Darfur showing poor plant growth. Late rains in late September arrived too late to salvage most cereal crops, and the IPC warns that food prices are likely to remain elevated, further straining already impoverished households.

Greater Kordofan, identified as the epicenter of Sudan’s conflict, has seen over 300,000 people forcibly displaced since October 2025 alone. The region’s markets have been repeatedly disrupted by more than 170 incidents this year—including airstrikes, looting, and armed clashes—severely limiting trade and access to essential supplies. Aid workers operating in the region face extreme dangers, with two WFP-contracted trucks coming under fire on October 2 and 3, resulting in at least one fatality.

The consequences of this violence are dire: as of August, only 26% of children expected to need medical treatment for severe acute malnutrition had received care. Without intervention, up to two-thirds of these children could die, the IPC cautions.

Funding remains a critical bottleneck, with less than half of the humanitarian appeal for Sudan secured as of October 8.

The IPC’s Famine Review Committee acknowledged that current survey data is insufficient for a full famine declaration but stressed that existing evidence points to a "rapidly worsening situation." In a stark assessment, the committee described the unfolding crisis as "a humanitarian catastrophe, already of historic proportions," urging an immediate end to hostilities, unimpeded aid access—particularly in North and West Kordofan—and flexible, large-scale funding to avert further loss of life.

For Malaysia and regional observers, the crisis in Sudan underscores the broader risks posed by climate-induced disasters intersecting with armed conflict. While Sudan itself is not a major trade partner for Malaysia, the humanitarian fallout could strain global supply chains, particularly for food commodities, and may prompt increased refugee flows into neighboring countries, potentially affecting regional stability.

The situation also serves as a cautionary tale for Southeast Asia, where climate vulnerabilities and geopolitical tensions could similarly exacerbate food insecurity in the years ahead.

The IPC’s call for action comes as Sudan’s conflict enters its third year, with no immediate end in sight. The warning serves as a stark reminder that without urgent intervention, the country’s most vulnerable populations—already on the verge of collapse—could face irreversible devastation. The next critical steps lie in securing funding, ensuring safe passage for aid convoys, and pressuring warring factions to halt hostilities before the situation deteriorates beyond recovery.

Related: Sudan