world 14 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Sudan Faces Widespread Acute Hunger as Conflict Intensifies
Over 40% of Sudan's population, approximately 19.5 million people, are experiencing acute hunger, with specific regions at high risk of famine, according to a global hunger monitor report. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/almost-20-million-people-in-sudan-still-face-acute-hunger-monitors-say-5459326
War in Sudan has led to a severe hunger crisis, with nearly 20 million people facing acute food shortages, a global hunger monitor has reported. The conflict, now in its third year, has devastated the economy, agriculture, and displaced 14 million people.
A recent assessment by the U.N.-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) indicates that while the number of people facing acute hunger has slightly decreased from the previous year, 14 areas across North Darfur, South Darfur, and South Kordofan states remain critically vulnerable, with 135,000 individuals at risk of “catastrophic” hunger levels.
Areas such as al-Fashir and Kadugli, previously identified as experiencing famine, show shifting dynamics. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have consolidated control over al-Fashir, leading to its depopulation, while the army has managed to break the siege of Kadugli.
Drone warfare is increasingly becoming the dominant mode of combat, with reports of at least 880 civilian deaths from drones since January. These attacks have targeted essential infrastructure like markets and hospitals, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Fighting continues intensely in the Kordofan region and Blue Nile state.
“Ongoing hostilities - especially around major supply routes, such as El Obeid in North Kordofan - and the possibility of renewed siege‑like conditions continue to heighten risks,” the IPC stated.
An estimated 825,000 children are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition. Insecurity, restricted access for aid organizations, and budget cuts have severely hampered relief efforts. The upcoming rainy season, starting in July, is also anticipated to worsen conditions as it coincides with the critical planting period.
Compounding the crisis, regional instability, particularly the Iran crisis, is expected to drive up prices for food, fuel, and fertilizer, diminishing the likelihood of a successful harvest later in the year. Areas hosting displaced populations from al-Fashir, such as Tina, Um Baru, and Kernoi, are also facing intensified conflict and drone attacks.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)