United Nations in Sudan

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Sudan:

Learn more

Photo

22 October 2025

Dengue response

WHO in Sudan is supporting the Health Ministry’s dengue response, with volunteers mobilized in Khartoum for key activities.

1 of 5

https://www.flickr.com/photos/unitednationssudan/albums/72177720329847089

Publication

04 June 2025

UN Sudan Annual Results Report 2024

2024 marked yet another challenging year for Sudan.After nearly two years of ongoing conflict, Sudan has become the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. More than 12 million people have been displaced within the country and across its borders. Famine was confirmed by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) in 10 locations, with an additional 17 areas teetering on the brink of famine.In April 2024, the UN and its partners launched a Famine Prevention Plan to scale up lifesaving assistance, including cash assistanceand community-based interventions, while advocating for broader humanitarian access. With $1.8 billion received in support last year, humanitarian organizations reached more than 15.6 million people across Sudan. Assistance included food and livelihoods support for more than 13 million people; water, sanitation and hygiene support; health, nutrition and shelter assistance.Notable progress was achieved through UN programmes and activities that implemented a mix of humanitarian and resilience interventions, including the successful delivery of aid across conflict lines to south Khartoum, marking the first such access since the conflict begun. The first batch of humanitarian assistance from the World Food Programme (WFP) arrived in South Darfur. Access to improved basic water service reached 9.8 million people, 9.2 million received cholera vaccinations, and a malaria vaccine was introduced. Nearly 55,500 at-risk youth received vocational training. In addition, 300,000 square meters of land were cleared of mines, 19 human rights forums were held, seven human rights monitoring missions were conducted, and the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking resumed activities.However, humanitarian and development needs continue to grow, while insecurity and looting of partners’ assets and supplies have severely hampered response efforts. Targeted attacks, including airstrikes and assaults on aid convoys, further disrupted operations and tragically resulted in the deaths of United Nations employees in 2024.I would like to thank our partners and the dedicated UN staff in Sudan and beyond for their unwavering commitment and sacrifices in the face of such a challenging environment. The UN remains committed to sustaining and expanding our lifesaving efforts, while working to create conditions for recovery, strengthen resilience, and support a return to political negotiations, ultimately striving to alleviate human suffering and bring peace to millions of Sudanese.Clementine Nkweta-SalamiResident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan

1 of 5

Publication

12 November 2024

The Socio-Economic Impact of Armed Conflict on Sudanese Urban Households

New Study: Short-term humanitarian aid alone insufficient to address severe deterioration in employment, income, access to essential services and food security.Economic revival, social protection, and infrastructure rehabilitation are critical for urban recovery in Sudan.Nairobi, 12 November 2024 – Eighteen months of war have deeply affected urban households in Sudan: 31 percent have been displaced, full-time employment has plummeted by half, over 70 percent of the urban households in Sudan had all or some of school-aged kids stop attending school, and only one out of seven urban households can access full health services—concluded a new joint study from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), launched today."The Socioeconomic Impact of Armed Conflict on Sudanese Urban Households" study provides a comprehensive assessment of how the ongoing conflict affects urban households in Sudan. With two-thirds of the fighting concentrated in cities of over 100,000 people, understanding impacts of the war on urban livelihoods is crucial for addressing both immediate economic challenges and long-term development obstacles. The study is based on analyses of a comprehensive survey of urban households across the country that both organizations conducted between May 2024 and July 2024, including 3,000 households."The ongoing conflict is intensifying already critical challenges, including widespread food insecurity," said Khalid Siddig, Senior Research Fellow and Program Leader for the Sudan Strategy Support Program at IFPRI. "In 2022, before the conflict began, only half of the population reported being food secure. Since then, the proportion of food-secure urban households has plunged from approximately 54 percent to just 20 percent.”The study observes that while the share of the population receiving assistance has increased overall during the conflict, a substantial 76 percent of the population reported receiving no assistance at all. Most reported relying on personal networks of family members and friends, rather than government institutions, international humanitarian agencies or domestic civil society organizations.“This study reveals significantly deepening vulnerabilities that Sudanese urban households are facing today on many fronts. No single intervention can adequately address this unfolding and multifaceted development crisis” stressed Luca Renda, UNDP Resident Representative in Sudan. “Expanding immediate short-term humanitarian relief is critical to help people survive and cope, but it will not be sufficient. It must be coupled with longer-term, development focused interventions that can help foster resilience and enable recovery.”The study emphasizes that addressing the challenges facing urban households in Sudan requires comprehensive, holistic multi-sectoral responses that go beyond a focus on alleviating immediate suffering to lay solid foundations for a sustainable recovery and durable resilience. Key actions required include:Implementing economic recovery programs that prioritize microfinance and business development services for more stable self-employment, support to small business, and vocational training.Expanding urban agricultural initiatives to help diversify food sources and offer sustainable access to the components of nutritious diets.Improving healthcare access by immediately deploying mobile health clinics while restoring and expanding affordable healthcare services.Restoring remote learning solutions and platforms as well as community-based centres to ensure that Sudan’s human capital is not irreversibly harmed, while working on rebuilding the education system with a focus on providing financial assistance to affected families.Increasing private-public partnerships and investment in decentralized systems, such as solar energy, rainwater harvesting and local sanitation solutions while working on restoring water, sanitation, and electricity infrastructure systems.Expanding and strengthening formal social protection programs to foster greater economic resilience, reduce reliance on informal networks and ensure that aid reaches the most vulnerable.Prioritizing housing, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities for displaced households.Additional Key FindingsThe proportion of urban households reporting having no income or employment has " surged to 18 percent compared to 1.6 percent pre-conflict. Unemployment is projected to surpass 45 percent by the end of 2024.While Sudan is now among four countries in the world with the highest prevalence of acute malnutrition, estimated at 13.6 percent, nearly half of the urban population faces moderate to severe food insecurity.Over 56 percent of urban households reported being in poorer or much poorer health than they were pre-conflict, as access to full health services dropped dramatically from 78 percent to 15.5 percent.While 63.6 percent of urban households reported that all school-age children in the household have ceased attendance, over 88 percent had at least one school-aged child ceased attending school since the conflict began.Access to piped water has decreased from 72.5 percent to 51.6 percent, while nearly 90 percent of households reported deteriorating reliability of electricity supply. The Arabic version of the report will be available shortly For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact:UNDP | Robert Few | UNDP County Office in Sudan Robert.Few@UNDP.orgIFPRI | Evgeniya Anisimova | Media and Digital Engagement Manager | IFPRI – Washington DC e.anisimova@cgiar.org | +1 (202) 726-4394 About IFPRIThe International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition. IFPRI’s strategic research aims to identify and analyse alternative international and country-led strategies and policies for meeting food and nutrition needs in low- and middle-income countries, with particular emphasis on poor and vulnerable groups in those countries, gender equity, and sustainability. It is a research centre of CGIAR, a worldwide partnership engaged in agricultural research for development. www.ifpri.org About UNDPUNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. http://www.undp.org

1 of 5

Story

08 November 2025

Trapped, torn, but holding on

In Sudan, children are bearing the brunt of a war they did not start.For more than 600 days, 12-year-old Maryam and her family were trapped in Al Fasher, North Darfur. Food was scarce — often there was none. Medicines ran out. Water was difficult to find.“We tried to leave several times,” she recalls. “But each time, the fighting got worse. We had to stay.”Together with other families, Maryam’s family prepared meals in a communal kitchen whenever food was available. It was there that her life changed forever.“I heard a loud explosion from our shelter,” she says, her voice trembling.“When I arrived, all I could see was rubble and bodies on the ground.”Almost everyone in the kitchen had died. Those who survived were badly injured. Her father lay on the ground, bleeding, before he and the others were rushed to a nearby hospital.Her mother had stepped out to a nearby shop earlier that day — and never returned. It has been more than a week since Maryam last saw her.As the fighting grew closer, Maryam and the remaining families had no choice but to flee. Her questions about her mother went unanswered.“All they said was that we had to leave,” she says quietly.They walked for days — through villages, by night and day — facing exhaustion, hunger and fear before finally reaching Tawila, a small town that now shelters tens of thousands of people who fled Al Fasher during the recent escalation. Today, Maryam shares a makeshift shelter with other displaced families. She waits — and hopes.“I haven’t heard anything about her since,” she says.“She didn’t have a phone, and neither do I. All I can do is wait.”Every morning, she wakes up hoping that her mother will find her — that she will call her name, return to her side, and bring back the sense of safety she once knew. She also dreams that her father survived and will come for her.In Tawila, the number of displaced people has more than doubled in recent weeks. In almost every shelter, there is a child like Maryam — children whose lives have been scarred by war. A generation growing up with fear and trauma, yet holding on to fragments of hope. UNICEF and partners are on the ground in Tawila, Mellit, and Kutum, delivering life-saving support to children and families fleeing the violence — providing clean water, nutrition, healthcare, education, and psychosocial support to help them rebuild their lives and find strength amid loss.

1 of 5

Story

26 October 2025

Sowing hope for a better tomorrow through farming in Sudan

By Alejandra Romo Garcia in White Nile, Sudan In Sudan, years of armed conflict have displaced millions and disrupted food production across vast areas of the country. As farming systems collapse, families struggle to access nutritious food, earn an income, and meet their most basic needs. For many communities affected by displacement and insecurity, growing food has become increasingly difficult - if not impossible.To help address these challenges, UNHCR and its partners, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, are implementing climate-resilient farming in areas affected by displacement. The initiative provides access to land, tools, seeds, and technical training for 20,000 refugees, internally displaced people and members of the host community. It also includes support with irrigation, group farming, and access to savings and financial services.The goal is to help communities restore food production, enhance household nutrition, and strengthen livelihoods. Farming activities are tailored to local conditions, and participants receive training in sustainable practices that support long-term recovery.In White Nile State, where over 370,000 South Sudanese refugees have sought refuge, these efforts are already having an impact in people’s daily life.Haifa Bakhit, 19, escaped Khartoum with her mother in April 2023 when violence intensified. Now living with extended family in a host community, she is actively participating in the agriculture programme. Haifa joined a group farm supported by the project and quickly became involved in every stage of the growing cycle.“We left everything. My father stayed behind, and we haven’t heard from him since,” she shares.Working on the land has given Haifa a renewed sense of purpose. She and her mother contribute to each step of the production process - digging, sowing, weeding, and preparing for the harvest. “We have participated in all the farming process, preparing the land, sowing, weeding. When we harvest, we’ll receive a share of the wheat and contribute to a group savings plan,” she says. Beyond the group farm, Haifa is thinking ahead. She received vegetable seeds through the programme and now hopes to grow food at home - an effort that could improve her family’s nutrition and even generate extra income. “We received vegetable seeds to grow them this season and I’m very curious to farm vegetables, it gives me hope, something to look forward to.” Haifa’s quiet optimism shows how access to land and tools can open up new possibilities - from daily survival to long-term recovery.In Khor Al Warel refugee camp, James Abal brings decades of lived experience to the farming initiative. A father of six, he fled South Sudan in 2016 and has lived in the camp ever since. As a child, James lost his arm during ethnic violence. Years later, during forced displacement, he also lost his artificial hand. Arriving at the camp without equipment or support, James feared his days of farming were behind him. “When I arrived at the camp, I had nothing, not even the tools. I used to work back home,” he explains. The project helped James reconnect with a role he knows well. He joined a group farm and was assigned a responsibility suited to his abilities - guarding the crops from animals. His team welcomed him with trust and kindness. “They welcomed me into a group farm. Because of my disability, I was assigned to guard the farm from animals, and the group supported me with meals and kindness.” He remains an integral part of the team and takes pride in their progress. After months of effort, the wheat fields are nearly ready for harvest. James and his fellow farmers are counting on the yield to feed their families and take the next step in their recovery. “We expect 100 sacks of wheat, and each member will get two sacks. That’s enough to feed my family. Next season, we hope to grow vegetables and sell them in the market.”For James, the farming group is more than a livelihood - it is a source of dignity, purpose, and community. As he looks ahead, his hopes extend far beyond the harvest.“I hope to get a new artificial hand and more support to keep my children in school. But more than anything, I hope for peace for Sudan, and for our community,” James says. Through shared farms and group activities, the project is creating opportunities for displaced families to rebuild their lives. Participants are learning practical skills, strengthening local food systems, and forging connections amongst refugee and host communities.In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, UNHCR and partners are scaling up these efforts - helping people like James, Haifa, and thousands of others not just survive, but thrive, rebuild, and lead their communities forward.

1 of 5

Story

22 October 2025

Polio stops here: Hanan’s mission to protect every child in Darfur

Years of listening, talking, and addressing fears around vaccines are paying off for Hanan, a vaccinator in Zalingei. Today, wherever she goes, children follow- and parents welcome her warmly. Their trust is the result of years of dedication and genuine care. Polio in DarfurWhen Hanan heard about the new polio outbreak in Darfur, she was deeply worried. Even one case of this life-threatening disease puts all children at risk. With three cases confirmed in West and Central Darfur, the danger was real.An outbreak response, supported by UNICEF with funding from KSRelief, was quickly launched to protect children. And, as always, Hanan was on the frontline. Her name is now known in every neighbourhood — a testament to the trust she has earned over the years, which was essential to reaching every child under five years with lifesaving polio drops. Ending polio, one home at a timeVaccine carrier on her shoulder and assistant by her side, Hanan joined mobile teams moving door to door.For more than ten years, she has vaccinated children against killer diseases in Zalingei. Her reputation precedes her — families open their doors without hesitation.“I do not face any challenges with families,” she proudly says.“Parents know me and what I advocate for. So, they bring their children whenever they see me.”At the next house, Mozamil, a father of a four-day-old baby, is waiting.“I stayed home when I heard the vaccinators were coming today,” he says with a smile as Hanan gives his son the lifesaving drops.Overwhelmed with joy, Hanan adds: “It’s moments like this that push me to stay on the frontline for children. We cannot fail parents like Mozamil. We cannot stop even during the war — vaccination is even more important now because families are constantly moving across the border to and from Chad.” The cost of war on childhood immunizationsAs the war in Sudan drags on, basic health services — including routine immunization — have been disrupted, and in many areas completely stopped. Vaccine coverage has dropped, resulting in outbreaks of polio, measles, and other preventable diseases that have claimed children’s lives.In 2025 alone, a total of 465 Acute Flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases - suspected polio cases - have been reported in Sudan — a harsh reminder of the cost of interrupted immunization programmes.UNICEF continues to support the Ministry of Health to sustain immunization services against all odds — strengthening the cold chain, procuring and delivering vaccines even in the most hard-to-reach and insecure areas.But without trusted frontline workers like Hanan, vaccines would never become vaccinations.Through their efforts, over 500,000 children under five years were reached with polio drops in the latest outbreak response campaign — surpassing the target population.Community trust in vaccinators like Hanan, combined with UNICEF-supported outreach through local radio, megaphone announcements, door-to-door awareness, and engagement of religious leaders, helped address fear and hesitancy and ensured a high vaccine uptake.The road to the campaignAccessing Darfur remains challenging. But through coordinated efforts and cross-border support, the Federal Ministry of Health led a campaign that:Procured and delivered vaccines to the Darfur states;Supplied finger markers and other materials;Activated community awareness drives ahead of the campaign;Trained and deployed over 4,500 vaccinators and 4,500 registrars.Stopping polio, one step at a timeUnder the scorching sun, wearing her yellow cap and carrying her vaccine carrier, every step Hanan took was a step closer to her dream — a generation free from vaccine-preventable diseases.“The safety of children was my biggest motivation,” she says.“Whenever I saw a smiling, finger-marked child, I felt energized to keep going.”

1 of 5

Story

14 October 2025

Together is the only way: Voices from Sudan’s forgotten war

It was a Saturday morning, the 15th of April 2023. A day that began like any other in Khartoum. My son along with his cousins went to university. Soon after, my phone rang. My son’s voice was shaking: “Mama, RSF is coming to the university parking lot. Students are running, they’re terrified. Should I go back and take the car?” In that instant, my heart froze. I told him, “No. Leave the car. Stay with your cousins. Just get to safety.” That was the moment the war began for me and for millions of Sudanese families. None of us expected it to last this long. Many thought it was just another coup. But it became something far darker, displacing millions and devastating a country already on its knees.We had more than 200 volunteers spread across the country—many right where the fighting began. We had plans to scale up to 1,000 volunteers to support health services. In a matter of days, those plans collapsed. Suddenly, it wasn’t about growth. It was about survival.Care that goes both waysInternet, phones, and electricity disappeared. I remember typing messages in the dark, waiting desperately for a blue tick on WhatsApp—just to know someone was still alive. And yet, despite losing homes and families being displaced, volunteers kept showing up and serving. One of the UN Volunteers told me, “Even when everything feels like it’s falling apart, my work gives me purpose.” That kind of resilience is why we are here today.In all this we received tremendous support and guidance from both our Regional Office and Headquarters. They listened to us when we were in tears, asked about the safety of our families, and continually reassured us that, above all, our safety truly mattered. In May 2024, more than a year into the war, I met the Executive Coordinator who asked me, “We know you took good care of the volunteers. But how are you coping with all this stress?” That simple question reminded me that care is not only something we give outward—it must also flow inward. Shelter, support and showing upNeighbours sheltered international volunteers when the UN system failed. Families opened their doors. When the crisis hit, we had to quickly rethink how to truly support our volunteers. We took action to ease the stress they were facing: extending contracts for job security, offering daily allowances and relocation help, arranging emergency evacuations, enabling remote work and easy access to pay, and providing counselling and crisis hotlines for volunteers and their families.Every challenge is an opportunity, even the war in Sudan. How should we advocate about UN Volunteers and build partnerships on the ground? A question I was faced with as Country Coordinator. Working together for solutionsAt the start of the war, I worked to quickly connect UN teams with the volunteers they needed—without overlapping efforts. I looked at each team’s goals, who they wanted to support, and what resources were available. Based on this, I created tailored offers for each UN entity, as well as a general plan to meet broader community needs. Together with the Regional Office for Arab States, we shaped proposals for nine UN agencies, drawing on insights from country teams, project managers, and Resident Representatives. Informal conversations and networks were key in helping us respond to the needs of the UN system in Sudan—UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, IOM, OCHA, WFP, and WHO. We designed volunteer roles for specialists, remote support, and emergency projects — with deployments across Khartoum and Gezira State.As the African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” In Sudan, the road is long. And the only way forward is together—volunteers, agencies, and communities. As one displaced father told me: “We don’t need promises. We need people.”Do we need perfection, or do we need presence?Speaking from a crisis context, I tell you that we don’t need perfection. We just need presence. We need to listen, talk and collaborate so that UNV is present on the frontline with the partners. And that presence — that thread of humanity — is what keeps hope alive in the forgotten war of Sudan.**************For more information about UN Volunteer assignments and how you can get involved, click here. To read our stories, click here.

1 of 5

Story

15 September 2025

Anchors of Hope: Women driving recovery and resilience

The Sudan’s conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has created one of the world’s fastest-growing humanitarian crises. Today, an estimated 30.4 million people need assistance and more than 14.2 million have been displaced with nearly 10 million within Sudan and over 4.2 million in neighbouring countries. Rural communities have suffered deep losses as farms are abandoned, markets disrupted, and food prices soar. In this fragile environment, women are especially vulnerable. Yet many have emerged as vital leaders, protecting their families, land and dignity.Madina: Farmer, Leader, MotherIn Kalahoot Scheme in Kassala State, Madina Ibrahim Mohamed, a 47-year-old smallholder farmer and a mother of three, became one of those leaders. With a lifetime of experience in agriculture and livestock, Madina already played a key role in her community. She leads the Voluntary Women Farming Groups of the Kalahoot Scheme and is an active member of the Women Development Network in Kassala. She also works as a community Animal Health Worker and a local agricultural extensionist, advising others on field crops and vegetable production. Despite limited formal education, Madina pushed forward with her studies and enrolled at Sudan Open University, a testament to her determination to continue growing in the face of adversity.“We, as women, live the daily consequences of conflict, yet our voices are rarely included,” said Madina. “True change will only come when women and girls are empowered through education, training, and leadership opportunities to shape the peace our communities so urgently need.”Choosing Kindness in CrisisWhen the conflict broke out in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, Madina’s world was turned upside down. Still, in the midst of uncertainty, her family chose kindness. They welcomed three displaced families into their modest home, sharing every meal, every space, and every ounce of hope they had for nearly two years.“The conflict has weighed heavily on us. Everything is so expensive now,” Madina said. “We manage with what little we have, and even when there’s nothing, we stay thankful.” But their generosity stretched their resources thin. Long before the planting season, they had already exhausted their small reserves of sorghum and cash, leaving them without seeds or money to cultivate their fields. Women Rising TogetherMadina was determined to change her future, refusing to let hardship define her life. Together with 218 women farmers, she organized a local response, reaching out to government institutions, UN agencies, and both national and international NGOs for support. FAO was the first to respond in 2024, delivering sorghum seeds through its emergency seed distribution campaign, a lifeline amid Sudan’s deepening hunger crisis. With seeds in hand, the women were able to rent land at low cost, cultivate in time for the rainy season and produce a considerable harvest of sorghum and vegetables.“This support truly empowered women,” said Aisha Osheik, FAO Sector Coordinator. “They chose to lead, to make decisions and to carry out the work themselves. It gave them independence and, more importantly, it gave them hope at a time when everything felt uncertain.”Beyond Food ProductionThe impact went beyond food production. With support from Kassala Microfinance Institution, 48 women received seed money to launch small income-generating activities by selling soap, oil, biscuits and other local goods. All the women successfully repaid their loans within ten months and have continued their businesses independently.Resilience Rooted in the LandThrough personal hardship and community struggle, Madina continues to lead with strength, humility and vision. Her story reflects the resilience of Sudanese women who, even in crisis, remain deeply rooted in their land and their role as providers — and who are choosing to rise, organize and lead. What started as a struggle for survival has grown into new skills and a source of confidence and resilience.

1 of 5

View all

Press Release

11 November 2025

IOM Chief Warns of Imminent Catastrophe as Displacement Surges in North Darfur

Geneva/Port Sudan, 11 November 2025“The crisis in El Fasher is the direct result of nearly 18 months of siege that has severed families from food, water, and medical care,” said DG Pope, as she began a five-day visit to the war-torn country. “Our teams are responding, but insecurity and depleted supplies mean we are only reaching a fraction of those in need. Without safe access and urgent funding, humanitarian operations risk grinding to a halt at the very moment communities need support the most.”In the past two weeks, heavy shelling and ground assaults in and around El Fasher have displaced nearly 90,000 people, forcing families to flee through unsafe routes with almost no access to food, water, or medical assistance. Tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped inside the city, surviving in famine-like conditions as hospitals, markets, and water systems collapse.Violence is spreading in other regions of Sudan as well. Between 26 October and 9 November, an estimated 38,990 people fled fighting in North Kordofan. Many are travelling long distances on foot or on donkey carts, sleeping outdoors without shelter, and going days without food while facing constant fear of attack.There are increasing reports of alarming protection risks, including arbitrary detention, looting, physical assault, and gender-based violence. Tawila, which prior to the escalation hosted over 650,000 internally displaced persons, is now receiving dozens of seriously wounded Sudanese from El Fasher. Despite the rising need, humanitarian operations are now on the brink of collapse. Warehouses are nearly empty, aid convoys face significant insecurity, and access restrictions continue to prevent the delivery of sufficient aid. IOM is urgently appealing for increased funding and immediate, sustained and safe humanitarian access to avert an even greater catastrophe. Despite restricted access and limited supplies, IOM continues to deliver lifesaving assistance whenever possible. A convoy launched from Port Sudan on 20 October is on its way to Tawila with shelter and non-food items for 7,500 displaced people, to be distributed by the African Relief Committee and Save the Children International. Through its Rapid Response Fund, IOM’s local partners are implementing emergency projects providing shelter kits, protection assistance, and health services, and improving access to water, sanitation, and hygiene for 60,000 people across North and South Darfur in an effort to prevent outbreaks such as cholera.IOM urges donors, partners, and the international community to act now to prevent further loss of life and ensure that vulnerable communities can safely access assistance. Coordinated national and international efforts are critical to deliver lifesaving aid, restore dignity, and protect civilians caught in the escalating crisis. For more information, please visit IOM’s Media Centre.

1 of 5

Press Release

04 November 2025

Famine conditions confirmed in Sudan's El Fasher and Kadugli, but hunger and malnutrition ease where conflict subsides

ROME/NEW YORK – The latest analysis of food insecurity and malnutrition in Sudan shows stark contrasts along conflict lines, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF warned today. In areas where violence has subsided – allowing humanitarian access and market recovery – food security has begun to improve. But in conflict-hit locations that have been largely cut off from humanitarian assistance or under siege, famine has now taken hold.The agencies call for an end to hostilities and safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access, which is urgently needed to prevent further loss of life and protect livelihoods.The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Special Snapshot confirms that by September 2025, acute food insecurity had slightly improved with an estimated 21.2 million – 45 percent of the population – facing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC3+). An estimated 3.4 million people are no longer facing crisis levels of hunger (IPC3+) compared to the previous analysis (December 2024 to May 2025).These improvements follow a gradual stabilisation since May 2025 in Khartoum, Al Jazirah and Sennar states, where conflict has eased. Families are returning home, markets are reopening, and there is more consistent access for commercial and humanitarian supplies. But these gains are limited; the wider crisis has shattered the economy and vital services, and much of the infrastructure people rely on has been damaged or destroyed.Good conditions for agriculture are also expected after the harvest and into 2026, with crisis levels of hunger improving to19.3 million (October 2025 to January 2026).However, these fragile improvements are highly localised. Many families returning to Khartoum and Al Jazirah have lost everything and will struggle to benefit fully from the harvest. Meanwhile, in the western regions of Sudan – notably North Darfur, South Darfur, West Kordofan and South Kordofan – active conflict and severely restricted access is driving a sharp deterioration in hunger and malnutrition.From February 2026, hunger is expected to worsen as food stocks run out and fighting continues. IPC figures remain largely unchanged because conditions are too volatile to predict outcomes for around 841,000 people in the hardest-hit areas, including El Fasher, Kadugli, Dilling and parts of South Kordofan.“Despite the immense challenges, FAO and its partners remain committed to supporting communities wherever access allows,” said Rein Paulsen, FAO’s Director of Emergencies and Resilience. “Seeds, tools and livestock are lifelines for millions of Sudanese farmers and herders. Restoring access and enabling local food production are essential to saving lives and protecting livelihoods.”Famine confirmed in besieged El Fasher and KadugliAccording to the Famine Review Committee (FRC), famine conditions (IPC Phase 5 – with reasonable evidence) are occurring in El Fasher in North Darfur and Kadugli in South Kordofan – towns largely cut off by conflict from commercial supplies and humanitarian assistance. These areas had been classified as IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) in 2024. Famine thresholds for food consumption, acute malnutrition and mortality have now been surpassed.Conditions in Dilling, South Kordofan, are likely similar to Kadugli, but cannot be classified due to insufficient reliable data – a result of restricted humanitarian access and ongoing hostilities.In the Western Nuba Mountains, conditions have shown marginal improvement, prompting a shift from Risk of Famine to IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). However, the risk of famine remains high if humanitarian access does not improve.The FRC projects a risk of famine in 20 additional areas across Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan, including rural localities and displacement camps. This includes several new locations in East Darfur and South Kordofan.Nutrition emergency drives child deathsGlobal Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates from screening data are alarmingly high, ranging from 38 to 75 percent in El Fasher and reaching 29 percent in Kadugli, according to the IPC.Meanwhile, outbreaks of cholera, malaria and measles continue to rise in areas where health, water and sanitation systems have collapsed, further increasing the risk of death among malnourished children.“The deadly combination of hunger, disease and displacement is placing millions of children at risk,” said Lucia Elmi, UNICEF Director of Emergency Operations. “Among them, girls often bear the brunt facing increased risks of malnutrition, gender-based violence, and being pulled out of school. Therapeutic food, safe water, and essential medicines and health services can save lives, but only if we can reach children in time. We urgently need parties to abide by their obligations under international law and to provide humanitarian actors with safe, timely and unhindered access to children.”Humanitarian access and funding are criticalAcross all critically affected regions, the drivers of hunger are clear: conflict, displacement and blocked humanitarian access. In El Fasher and Kadugli, people have endured months without reliable access to food or medical care. Markets have collapsed and prices of staple goods have soared.“WFP has made hard-won gains and is now reaching more than 4 million people each month with vital food assistance,” said Ross Smith, WFP’s Director of Emergencies. “We see what’s possible when we can delivery vital aid: families rebuild, markets revive, and children get the food they need to survive. But conflict still decides who eats and who does not. Too many communities are being pushed into starvation simply because we cannot reach them. We need additional funding and sustained, unhindered access — now — to stop famine from spreading.”UNICEF, WFP and FAO are prioritizing the hardest-hit areas with integrated food, nutrition, health, WASH, protection and agricultural and livestock health support. But access remains inconsistent, and humanitarian workers and supplies are frequently targeted, while aid convoys face delays, denials and security threats.Without safe, sustained access, adequate funding and an end to violence, famine will continue to claim lives in Sudan. Notes to editors:The IPC and its Famine Review Committee are independent, evidence-based technical processes supported by multiple organizations, including FAO, WFP, and UNICEF. No single agency issues or declares a famine. ************************************ For more information please contact:Annabel Symington, WFP/Rome, Mob. (+39) 342 1884921, Annabel.symington@wfp.orgIrina Utkina, FAO/Rome, tel: (+39) 06 570 52542, irina.utkina@fao.orgJoe English, UNICEF/New York, Mob. +1 917893 0692, jenglish@unicef.org

1 of 5

Press Release

28 October 2025

Statement from the Operational Humanitarian Country Team in Sudan on attacks against civilians in El Fasher

We are horrified by credible reports of widespread violations, including summary executions, attacks on civilians along escape routes, house-to-house raids and obstacles preventing civilians from reaching safety. Sexual violence, particularly against women and girls, continues to be reported. Local responders are in grave danger, with some reportedly detained or killed.Humanitarian workers continue to operate under extraordinary risk, assisting thousands who have fled to Tawila and surrounding areas. Access to El Fasher remains severely restricted, and the capacity to respond is rapidly shrinking, while needs increase. We continue to be prevented from reaching El Fasher and the large number of civilians trapped in the city.We call on the international community — including Member States, regional organizations and donors — to act immediately to:1. Protect civilians, including humanitarian workers, and civilian infrastructure. All parties must take all necessary measures to protect civilians, cease attacks on hospitals, markets, displacement sites and civilian infrastructure, and respect the protected status of humanitarian operations under international law.2. Guarantee safe passage and humanitarian access. Civilians must be allowed to flee safely and in dignity, and aid agencies must receive unimpeded, sustained access to reach those trapped in El Fasher.3. Ensure accountability. All alleged violations of international humanitarian law must be investigated, and those responsible held to account, with a view to preventing further violations.4. Scale up urgent funding to enable life-saving assistance and support local responders, including women-led groups, working on the front lines.We remind all parties to the conflict that civilians, medical and humanitarian personnel, assets and humanitarian operations are protected under international humanitarian law. We urge the international community to act now — decisively and in unity — to prevent an even greater catastrophic loss of life and to restore the minimum conditions of safety and dignity for the people of El Fasher.The humanitarian community stands ready to scale up assistance in El Fasher once access and safety are secured. We will continue to bear witness, document violations and abuses, support survivors, and do everything within our capacity to strengthen the protection of civilians.****For more information, please contact: Dan Teng’o, dan.tengo@un.org; +249 91 253 2791

1 of 5

Press Release

27 October 2025

Appalling reports of summary executions and other serious violations, as RSF makes major territorial gains in El Fasher and North Kordofan

“In El Fasher, initial reports indicate an extremely precarious situation since the RSF yesterday announced its takeover of the army’s 6th Infantry Division,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. “The risk of further large-scale, ethnically motivated violations and atrocities in El Fasher is mounting by the day. Urgent and concrete action needs to be taken urgently to ensure the protection of civilians in El Fasher and safe passage for those trying to reach relative safety.”The Office has received reports of the summary execution of civilians trying to flee, with indications of ethnic motivations for killings, and of persons no longer participating in hostilities (hors de combat). Multiple distressing videos received by UN Human Rights show dozens of unarmed men being shot or lying dead, surrounded by RSF fighters who accuse them of being SAF fighters. Hundreds of people have reportedly been detained while trying to flee, including a journalist. Given past realities in North Darfur, the likelihood of sexual violence against women and girls in particular is extremely high. The Office has also received reports of numerous civilian deaths, including of local humanitarian volunteers, due to heavy artillery shelling from 22 to 26 October. It is difficult to estimate the number of civilian casualties at this point, given communications cuts and the large number of people fleeing.Amid severe food shortages and exorbitant prices, the Office has also received disturbing reports of the summary execution of five men by RSF fighters for attempting to bring food supplies into the city, which has been under RSF siege for 18 months. Summary executions of civilians by RSF fighters are also being reported in Bara city, North Kordofan state in western Sudan, after it was captured by the RSF on 25 October following a major offensive. The victims were reportedly accused of supporting the Sudanese Armed Forces. Reports suggest that dozens of civilians have been killed.“The RSF must urgently take concrete steps to end and prevent abuses against civilians in both El Fasher and Bara, including ethnically motivated violence and reprisal attacks,” Türk said. “I remind the RSF commanders of their obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure the protection of civilians and to ensure the passage of essential supplies and humanitarian assistance – which just days ago they again publicly committed to doing.” The High Commissioner underlined that international humanitarian law prohibits violence against individuals no longer participating in hostilities (hors de combat). The use of starvation as a weapon of war is also strictly prohibited.Türk reiterated his call on Member States with influence to act urgently to prevent the commission of large-scale atrocities by the RSF and allied fighters, and to intensify pressure to end this intolerable conflict. Ensuring accountability for violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law by all parties to the conflict is critical to ensure fresh cycles of violations and abuses do not recur.ENDS For more information and media requests, please contact:In GenevaRavina Shamdasani: +41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org Liz Throssell: +41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org Jeremy Laurence: +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org In NairobiSeif Magango : +254 78834 3897 / seif.magango@un.org

1 of 5

View all