By Awyetu Asabe Hope
Millions of people in Sudan are surviving on just one meal a day as a worsening food crisis pushes the country closer to famine, a coalition of humanitarian organisations has warned.
The report, released on Monday, said the crisis is being driven by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which enters its third year this week.
According to the findings by Action Against Hunger, CARE International, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, and Norwegian Refugee Council, families in the hardest-hit regions — North Darfur and South Kordofan — are facing extreme food shortages.
“In the worst-affected areas, millions of families can only access one meal a day. Often, they go entire days without eating,” the report stated.
It added that many residents have resorted to eating leaves and animal feed to survive.
The war has displaced millions and disrupted farming and food supply systems, creating one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
Aid agencies say the situation is being worsened by the deliberate destruction of farms and markets, as well as the use of starvation as a weapon of war.
Despite the growing evidence, the Sudanese government has denied the existence of famine, while the RSF has rejected responsibility for conditions in areas under its control.
According to the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, about 28.9 million people — representing 61.7 per cent of the population — are experiencing acute food insecurity.
The United Nations has also reported widespread atrocities and ethnically driven violence across the country.
Famine conditions have already been confirmed in parts of the country, including al-Fashir and Kadugli, while recent assessments by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification show that malnutrition rates among children under five have exceeded famine thresholds in areas such as Um Baru and Kernoi.
The report further revealed that humanitarian response efforts are under severe strain, with communal kitchens struggling to meet rising demand and funding cuts limiting aid operations.
Women and girls are among the most affected, facing heightened risks of rape and harassment while attempting to access food, water, or farmland.
Female-headed households are reportedly three times more likely to experience food insecurity than those headed by men.
Humanitarian organisations have called for urgent international intervention to prevent further deterioration of the crisis and avert a full-scale famine.
