Sudan faces worsening hunger crisis due to war and Hormuz disruption
The UN World Food Programme warns that Sudan's hunger crisis is deepening because of ongoing conflict, funding cuts, and fertilizer supply disruptions caused by the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
Worsening crisis
The acting executive director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), Carl Skau, warned on Tuesday that Sudan is facing a deepening hunger crisis caused by the protracted conflict, aid funding cuts, and rising agricultural costs linked to global disruptions, particularly the war in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Skau, more than 100,000 people are still experiencing famine-like conditions, placing them at the highest level of the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). He described the situation as "extremely, extremely serious."
Sudan remains the world's largest humanitarian crisis. While intensive aid efforts have reduced the number of people in famine-like conditions, approximately five million people still face emergency or catastrophic levels of hunger. Overall, nearly 19.5 million Sudanese are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity.
Fighting and supply routes
Recent fighting around el-Obeid in North Kordofan has raised fears that the city could suffer a fate similar to el-Fasher in Darfur. However, violence has eased in recent days, raising hopes that aid deliveries can be expanded from 100,000 to 250,000 people in the area.
In Darfur, renewed fighting over the past week forced the closure of the Tine border crossing from Chad, threatening to reverse gains made after famine took hold in parts of the country.
Funding shortfall
The WFP has reduced the number of people it assists from five million a year ago to about 3.5 million, and cut rations in many areas, including Tawila in Darfur. This is due to a $646 million funding gap after major donors, including the United States, European countries, and Britain, reduced contributions.
"We're not heading in the right direction here," Skau said. "If anything, we are falling backwards."
Skau also warned that soaring diesel prices and fertilizer shortages linked to the conflict in the Gulf and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could further undermine Sudan's food security during the current planting season. Sudan relies heavily on fertilizer imports from Gulf countries, and much of its agriculture depends on irrigation pumps that may become too expensive for farmers to operate.
Impact of the war
The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), now in its fourth year, has displaced millions and devastated much of the country. Aid agencies have repeatedly warned of worsening food insecurity and limited humanitarian access.
