US and Western Allies Warn of Famine Risk in Sudan

The United States, alongside 30 other Western nations, has issued a stark warning about the escalating food insecurity in Sudan, urging the factions engaged in the ongoing civil war to remove impediments to humanitarian aid to avert a potential famine.

The joint statement highlighted that the conflict, which began in April 2023, is the primary driver of the hunger crisis, having damaged vital infrastructure and disrupted food production. The war has already displaced 14 million people.

According to the statement, published by the U.S. State Department, an estimated 19.5 million people, or 41% of Sudan's population, are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity. Of these, five million are facing emergency levels of hunger.

"The number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition could exceed the projected 825,000" without immediate intervention, the signatories warned. This crisis is compounded by systematic obstruction of aid delivery and the effects of El Niño, which has led to reduced rainfall and increased drought across more than half of the country.

"The parties to the conflict bear primary responsibility for alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people," the statement reads, demanding the lifting of all barriers to humanitarian assistance and ensuring full, safe, rapid, and unimpeded access.

As of September, only 40% of Sudan's humanitarian needs plan for 2026 had been funded, according to data cited by the Islamic Relief East Africa regional director. The community kitchens providing meals to many are also facing the threat of funding cuts, impacting their long-term support capabilities.

This dire situation follows a June assessment by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, which estimated that 5.1 million people in Sudan were facing severe hunger. The civil war erupted from a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.